Trip to Big Lake

So the fam took a camping trip to Big Lake. I love this country and from the picture above need I say more. I do have to admit I really could do without camping in a tent. Let me just say that I really like my comfort and tent camping isn't my cup of tea. This trip was no exception as Brigg threw-up in the tent and it rained a good part of the time. A few of the highlights were we saw the old cabin that I think my grandpa built. My brother brought his crawdad traps and I think they caught up to 100 of the little things. They ate them the next day and my niece kept saying "tastes like chicken". I didn't dare eat any regardless if they taste like chicken or not. My sister introduced my to the "Twilight" series, we were ablt to see my Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Kyle and of course this rainbow after the storm. It went full circle and I got to see where it touched the earth. Brigg loved being outside and in the dirt even being sick. Glad I went but I will say that I am happier that I probably wont have to go camping for another year.

4th of July Weekend, Update on Vanessa

This picture was unfortunately one of the only pictures taken this weekend but it pretty much sums it all up! It was taken on the fourth around 10AM. We hadn't any sooner put her down on the floor from coming home from the ward pancake breakfast and she was out. The ward party was fabulous other than my husband and many others being unexpectedly doused in water by Jeff. Brad wrestled him to the ground for doing so but I can't say that he came out a victor seeing as he had sand all over him until he could grab a shower a few hours later. After waking Vanessa we went to my moms house and swam and then the real work began. I have to say that I HATE HATE HATE food storage right now. We decided to start organizing my moms food storage pantry for her. Lets just say if a disaster happens I know right where 50tons of wheat is. Great weekend and must say I do love this country.

Oh and one more thing to update on an old post. My Vanessa began crawling today!! I was so worried about her not putting pressure on her legs and I thought that she might have something wrong again (her holes in her heart being the first). But I finally think that the lord is teaching me patience through this little girl.

Goodbye to the 9-5

Well Brad has finally done it, he quit his job at the University of Phoenix. He has been talking about this for a looooooong time. I think he'll enjoy life on the outside a lot more. He often said that people are not suppose to live in a 4x4 foot area(he means a cubical). I don't know how he did it so long but he really made the best of it. He's leaving there with no student debt and a bachelors degree to boot. We are so excited for the future as this feels like the right direction for us. Brad now is going to continue in being a realtor. Oh and we know it's a slow market and all of the yadda yadda's about that so please don't rain on his parade. I am excited to have a man around that is happy to get up in the morning again. He is with a brokerage that if you move across town or country then they will move you for FREE!!! He also has another IT Business that if you haven't heard about it already and you are one of Brad's close friends I will be shocked to death. So on top of that good news we are also planning on renting out our home. So if you know of anyone that is wanting to live in the now booming Laveen area please let us know. I'll be posting pics of the house soon for anyone that is interested. So want to give a quick Thank you to University of Phoenix for providing a degree and work for my husband. And on to bigger and brighter days!!

The Big "O" Mess

So I leave my children for one minute and the box of cheerios was unloaded onto the floor and the eating frenzy began!! I came into the room because I hear two little kids eating like monsters on the floor with monster sounds and all. What is my Briggy teaching my precious little girl! Couldn't help but to laugh at the silliness of the hole situation. These two are a crack up.

Here you go Dallyn She's all for you.

Well my sister is in Alaska and she loves it but that doesn't mean she doesn't miss home. I can totally relate living in Russia, I loved where I was but it wasn't in anyway close to what I was used to. I remember trying to capture AZ in a moment the few hours before I left for my flight. I stood in the parking lot of KMart and just tried to let the heat seep into my bones. I remember looking up at the moon and my mom had noticed. We had just watched the movie This Side of Heaven. She told me what the elder told his girlfriend before he left, that no matter what side of the earth I was on we were under the same moon. That helped me so many times walking home late at night when it was cold and I had my longing thoughts of home come to me. So I can only imagine me sisters desperation for the companionship of the moon. So this ones for you sis I hope you enjoy her in all of her glory. Can't wait to see you again and hear you laugh at your own jokes. Love ya sis.

Dang I was TAGGED!!!!

Tag I'm It!

This is my first tag and I can't say that I am overly excited about being tagged, but I will play along for the sake of not being a party-pooper.
How to play this game. Post these rules on your blog; List 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 random surprising facts about yourself. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names.

JOYS - 1) Evenings when my husband gets home and the four of us go swimming together. Love love love those nights.
2) I have some really great sisters. I joy in there calls and emails and long conversations.
3) Nights when we stay at my parents house because brad and I can slip out late at night and pretend like we don't have a care in the world like the rest of the idiots out at 1AM!!

FEARS - 1) So my dad owns buffalo at his house. I have nightmares that one of my children will get too close or slip into the cage and that will be the end of them.
2) That when I give a talk in church after it's all said and done people think I am an idiot and I wont have a clue.
3) That I will never get rid of the spiders that live in my backyard. They just keep coming back.

GOALS -1) To get my abs to back to where they are suppose to be before the next baby makes them even more unrecognizable.
2) To show my husband more of the love that he recognizes daily
3) To be 15 minutes early instead of 15 minutes late to everything.

CURRENT OBSESSIONS/COLLECTIONS 1) Currently I am collecting loose chage so I can take Brad on his first cruise. I have a little more than half a milk jug full. Whoopee!!!!
2) The current obsession is dress up clothes for Vanessa
3) I love thrift stores. If I could go everyday I would.

RANDOM FACTS 1) I love to decorate and work with my hands. I am starting a certificate program in interior design so I can improve what I am already doing.
2) When I met my husband for the first time I tried to get rid of him because he stood by me almost the entire institute opening social and asked me who there I liked. He's real smooth but I guess it worked out for him.
3) I love spring training games. I think it is the best thing in the world to go sit on the lawn and watch a good old baseball game.

So.....pretty boring.I am sure I will never be tagged again.

TAG YOUR IT
1. Dallyn Jones 2. Grandma Lilly 3. Lindsey Stokes 4. Sheena Reisner 5. Valerie Broyles

Miss Vanessa

My little miss Vanessa isn't a drama queen but she does go for the scare factor. Like for instance when she was born she had a hole in between her left and right heart chambers. Those have healed beautifully and I am so thankful. Now my little baby girl is 9 1/2 months and she doesn't like to bare any weight on her legs. She can sit up by herself but doesn't pull herself up and obviously can't crawl. I am a little worried about my sweet girl. I have started to work with her on putting pressure on her legs and she is doing better. We have an appointment for her to see a neurologist soon but before we go there I was wondering if anyone else has been through this and how it turned out???

Mortensen FHE

The Mortensen family is known for getting together no matter what for family home evening to reunite as a family. This time we had a themed fathers day competition. The first competition was to eat 5 crackers and then whistle. The picture above is my father whistling with these crackers all stuffed in his cheeks.
There were a few other competitions, one being trying to scrunch up newspaper using one hand with out bending your elbows. Terrle won that one but he cheated I'm sure of it.
My mother also joined us that night fresh off of coming home from Jerusalem. We are so happy to have her back!
I am happy we have these events because I am afraid I wouldn't see my cousins except once or twice a year. It is so good to have the second cousins get to know each other. Great evening!

Things you don't do infront or your son

Well we learned this the hard way. That being that you do not paint your toenails infront of you little boy. He not only had this on his toes and legs but also on his face. I had gotten it off of his face before I realized that I needed a picture for later teasing so we just got the toes. My little Brigg is growing up and learning so fast. What a Joy!