life lately

i haven't blog much lately, and i still don't have much to blog on, but here are probably some good reasons why: back in august of 2011 i started up a program online to become a medical transcriptionist. it has been really fun, but taking oh so much longer than i had hoped. i really enjoy it, but with working part time, and having 3 kids and lots of other things it's hard to find the time. let me make it clear though, i WILL finish this program because i do not intend to be a checker at smith's for the rest of my life. i thought i better do something about it then, so i am. slowly but surely. (i have a whole new appreciation for those in the medical field. i cannot imagine what a doctor must go through to get to the point of treating patients~AMAZING, is all i can say) back in april i got put in r.s. presidency as 2nd counselor. i was totally blown away by that, and thinking they must be pretty desperate in our ward to have call me to that position, but i really have loved it. it's fun to be in primary, but i was a little ready for a break, and believe it or not, i kind of had a feeling that this was going to happen to me before it did. maybe that was one of the Lords tender mercies, to kind of prepare me, just to get me comfortable thinking that it was coming. anyway, i am over the r.s. board and the additional meetings type of stuff. it was really pretty severely disappointing to have tried so hard to put together a big super saturday back in july and only have 3 women (beside the committee and r.s. president) show up. i worked for hours on end making up samples/display items and then the actual kits themselves. i hope the next activity well be attended! please go support your local r.s. activities! :) there's my little plug for any r.s. activity's committee people. i also had to teach r.s. for the first time, ever, last sunday. n.e.r.v.e.w.r.a.c.k.i.n.g...is all i have to say about that! hmmm lets see, kids have been home all summer. back in sept of 2011 i found out our neighbors home was a short sale, so we decided we wanted to look at it and thought about buying it. very long story short, we were 2nd in line and the whole time our agent told us that she kept hearing the 1st people probably would not be able to afford it. eventually, about 7 months later, they did. so we started looking again. one that i really loved got snaked out from under me because i had a short vacation to wisconsin, and then my relator had a week vacation and i wanted to show it to james when she got back, but by then it was already under contract. still kicking myself on that one. anyway, so another one comes along and it was in santaquin, ut about 10 minutes south of payson, and we started to fall in love with that one. so we put in an offer and there was some conter offering but then we settled and we were "under contract". we got a home inspection done, and then an appraisal. our relator called and said we had bad news, and that the home would not appraise for as much (not by $12,000) as our price. so we had to pull the plug on that one and withdraw our offer. so as you can imagine by now, i've about had it. i told james that i didn't want to deal with our agent or lender anymore for a while. then i kind of changed my mind and decided that we should go look at this one other house that we had looked at once already. it was our 3rd choice overall, but 2nd choice was already under contract by the time the santaquin house fell through. so we went and looked at this one again and this time we both loved it so much more. we decided to put in an offer and they accepted. so please cross fingers and toes and say prayers that this one will appraise for enough :) supposed to be done later this week. we would love to be in this house, so i hope it works out. it is here in payson, and in the same school district and close to a lot of friends that they girl have already made in school. it's been an emotional roller coaster for me, and poor james has been so patient with me. he just wants me to be happy. and so we will see. we also went on a fun vacation to my parents at the end of july! more pictures on that, and a few other happenings, to come!

For Bren

My family and I all got to go out to Bren's graduation from Residency. We all went out last weekend and got to go to some of his favorite spots before they take off for their new life in Boise, ID. Here he is with some of the Brewer mascots after we ate lunch at the TGI Friday's inside the ballpark. Lunch at Miller Park with the family. Here are a bunch of hospitals he worked at in the area. Having custard and sampling famous Wisconsin cheeses at some of their favorite stores. Bren and Krista's house (well, it used to be) Getting ready for the dinner and the presentation of the diplomas! I have a pretty good feeling, besides Krista and Bren, I might have been the next most excited for that night! I am so extremely proud of Bren and all he has accomplished. He is such a great example of perseverance. He said it was a long hard road during his speech, but he made it! He made a point of saying that the night was just as much for his wife and kids as it was for him. This is so true. I know they have all had to sacrifice so much. More than I know I could! I don't know how they did it all, but I am so thrilled for them and their new life ahead. I wanted to start bawling during the whole thing because I am just so proud of him and I love him so much! Bren and Krista Bren with Mom and Dad Heaton family after the celebration was over! What a wonderful night. SO grateful for them for having us there, and to my parents for buying me a ticket out to Wisconsin to be a part of this huge night in their lives. I couldn't have been more happy to have been a part of it.

Mt Timpanogos Cave

James took Logan and Autumn on a hike up to the cave while I was with my family in Wisconsin last weekend. They had a fun time! Apparently James had to carry Autumn half way up the trail though. Next time I will have to be there and help out. Poor Sierra is just too little, but she is lucky she got to stay with Grandma B.

Happy 2nd Birthday Sierra!

Mom: I have no idea who ate the cupcake? What are you referring to? Sierra turned 2 on June 18th, and I think she had a perfect day. The older two girls were so happy to celebrate with her and we all taught her how to say "I'm 2"! So cute! Sierra at 2: Loves her bottle, binkie, and blanket for naps, which typically last 2-3 hours. She loves going outside and playing. She is excellent at destroying anything and EVERYTHING. She love seeing animals. She is very quick and tries to escape from us every chance she can. She moves so fast sometimes we really can't catch her, but then she usually ends up tripping and bawling about it. She is starting to talk a lot more, which is nice, so we can figure out what she wants. She loves her sisters and her parents very much. She loves going to the store and riding in the car for the most part. She's a big fan of movies...not sure that's a great thing, but she does love books too. She is pretty fearless, and when we go to the park, she will climb up big flights of stairs and slide down gigantic slides all by herself. She gives us a run for our money, but we love her to pieces and wouldn't trade her for the world. She brings us so much joy, as our other two girls do too. We are grateful for our family!

Logan and Autumn spring dance recital

The girls had a recital at the end of May and they both did awesome! We are so proud of them. It was fun to have Grandma and Grandpa Brookes, and Aunt Kate join us. They were happy to have wonderful family support!