canning,canning & more canning...

Oh, and making jam!
I've been busy this week! Peaches and pears and raspberries all came in at the same time. So, my nights have been occupied and I've had trouble finding the time to update our blog. Can you imagine that? Craziness! But, it's my first time canning fruit and I do enjoy it! The best feeling is when you're all done and you're pantry is stocked full!
My kids have been off of school for the past week and 1/2. They go back next Wednesday. I think that we are all ready! We're going kinda crazy! We haven't really been able to go anywhere or do anything special because we're saving up our $ for Germany next summer. We start planning with Jens's family this Sunday! We're very excited!
Will is eating cereal now! Such a big boy! By his facial expressions it doesn't seem like he likes it very much, but he still eats it. I think it's helping him keep from spitting up, so that is a very good thing!


To those who live here in the Valley, I'm sure you're feeling weird about seeing all the Halloween decor around when it still feels like summer! If you're not maybe I'm the only one. But I gave in and let my kids decorate and pick out their costumes. Briggs is going to be the same ol' Scary Skeleton with black hooded cape and bloody sword guy! (I tried to deter him, yet again! Didn't work!) But, my girls have decided to be Dorothy and the Wicked Witch and we got Will a lion costume (since he likes to make growling noises!) They'll be so cute! I'll post pics as soon as I get them.
That's it for now! Nothing really major to report! Although, I would like to pass along that my friend Laurie & I have started sewing cute burp cloths for baby gifts. We've created a blog to kind of show them off.....a little business on the side. Ya know, something that started as..." Oh, we could make this... "
So, check it out and if you need baby gifts you know where to look! It's called krissi lu's under WHAT A SITE...
our cute smiling boy!

On Saturday the kids were helping us wash our cars. Will was sitting in his Bumbo (loves it!) and watching Briggs playing with his remote control Hummer! He loved it! He couldn't keep his eyes off of it! The funny part was when Briggs kept driving it in a circle around Will's chair! I actually thought his head was going to start spinning!

Eryn Jane Dunford Stars In...

Now, I thought that Eryn would "love" this because she loves anything HSM! and can't wait to see the new movie, but...yeah BIG BUT....she started crying. She said it's too embarrassing. I think because her character dances with Troy! OH! SOOO embarrassing!!! How could I be so mean! I got her to let me put it on my blog... just not HER blog! Little does she know that she doesn't have one. But, I'm not going to tell her that because it's just TOO CUTE! Am I horrible?

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Happy Birthday To Us...

Yes, Jens and I had a fabulous birthday. We went to Briggs & Eryn Jane's soccer games. Briggs is learning to be more aggressive and Eryn scored her first goal. They're doing so great and having a fun time! Oma came to watch and then took us all to Paradise Bakery for a delicious lunch and cookies, yum! Thanks Oma, we love you!
We hung out at home for some R&R and then Grandma came over to watch "all" the kids so Jens and I could go out to eat. Jens was craving mini chimis at Macayos. We picked up an ice cream cake and brought it home so the kids could help us celebrate. Eryn was very excited! And Will was very good for my mom! No crying! (hallelujah!) He still has not taken a bottle as of yet, but we're working on it. Thanks Grandma! we love you too!


Eryn thought it was funny to blow out our candles!

Thanks for all the well wishes from all our fam and friends on our Birthday! We feel the love and it made our birthdays so special!!!

Jensy's New Site

Jens has a new site. I added the link as well. JD Hogz blog

Go SunDevils...

Jens got season tickets to ASU Football this year. We didn't get to go last weekend. Tonight he took Briggs & Reagan. They just got back and had a great time. Briggs loved it and Jens bought him a hat. Jens said that Briggs was screaming and cheering with all the fans around them, running up and down the aisles give high fives and that Reagan had a hard time following along. Here's a picture from his iphone.

Super Post...

So, I feel like I type the same title on every post. "Long time, No post!" To be honest, I'm very burned out with the whole blogging thing. The only reason I'm trying to keep going is because a) it is the only journaling I do & 2. I've had requests to update. Yeah, I know, I'm so needed....so very special! I do thank you for noticing, it does make me feel good!
So, on to the update.
Well, lots has happened. My baby boy, Will, was blessed on the first Sunday in August. Wow, one month ago, I can't believe it. Will did well (ha) and Jens gave him the sweetest most beautiful blessing. I remember feeling my testimony of Priesthood Power strengthened. How lucky and blessed I am to have it in my home. Jens is the best of husbands and fathers and so very worthy to hold this power. I'm so very proud of him and grateful that I have him in my life! It was a special day! Most of our family and lots of good friends, some we haven't seen in a while, were in attendance and that made it very nice. We felt the love and want to thank them all for it.

To tell you a little about this newest member in our family....he is a STINKER! and we love him like crazy!
He is quick to smile and laugh and learn. ( Jens just walked in and was like, "WOW...Blogging!" It's a miracle. ) He just learned how to spit or blow his lips, blow bubbles....I'm not sure how to explain it. Jens taught him and now we both wish he hadn't because he loves to do his new trick and spits and slobbers twice as much. But, it makes him so happy, he's so very proud of himself, it's funny. We'll have to get some video of him and post it for you. He's also using his hands and grabbing at toys and our faces. He loves to growl and give kisses and most of all, he loves to be held. He sleeps well, all night, in fact, but during the day if he's not being held he's in an uproar and gets very very mad. He also loves to be read to. His favorite books are If You Give A Mouse A Cookie and Where The Wild Things Are . They were Briggsy's favorites as well.

This is Will smiling in his sleep. He does that a lot!


Kaci's birthday was on the 9th of August. We got together on her day off and had breakfast. Such a good Aunt....the kids absolutely adore her.... Happy Birthday Kaki!


What else, what else...Oh! We went up North over Labor Day weekend. We rented a cabin in Overgaard, just south of Heber. We hung out there and Jens's mom came with us. It was a lot of fun, very relaxing. We roasted marshmallows, gazed at the stars, ran, walked & fished in the rain, we were cold (amazing, I loved it!), We didn't want to come home!









The main reason for heading up north was to attend an open house for my nephew Jonathan and his new bride Lindsey. So, most of my family was there as well and it was very nice. It turned out beautifully! The cousins always love to get together and play. They played outside for most of the evening. Near the end of the party, Briggs brought in a toad....YES, a toad! It looked fake, I didn't believe it was real, but it was. Too bad I didn't get a picture. I was too busy freaking out telling him to put it back and wash his hands. I get kind of paranoid sometimes. I need to remember that boys will be boys.
Jonathan & Lindsey. Don't they look great together...

You can see where Johnny gets his good looks from. My brother David & his wife Cindy...


We decided to take some pictures of us also...since we were all dressed up...




This weekend was Briggs & Eryn's very first soccer games of the season. Both of their games started at 11am. So, I only got to watch Eryn play. They both posed for pictures before.
Not even playing yet and already roasting...

She decided her picture would be better if she posed with this feather...

They both did a great job, despite the heat. Briggs actually got sick, a little heat stroked and started to throw up, ew. But he was a real trooper and stuck it out and did awesome. Eryn was funny. I think she's going to love this sport. It was so hot that every time someone kicked the ball out she would raise her hand to come out. We had to make her stay in, but she didn't complain, she pushed through and did great. We walked back to Briggsy's game and sat in the shade. She ate some cotton candy that Reagan shared with her and with soaked clothes and a bright red & sweaty face said, "This is the BEST DAY EVER!"

I love this picture...What a kick!


So, thats my month of August in a nutshell! What a month! It's taken me FOREVER to put this post together. I hope I haven't burnt myself out again.
Oh Wait! I knew I was forgetting 2 very special somethings! We want to WELCOME...
Davin Troy Gazeley born: July 27th &...


Natalee Marina Stevens born: August 14th


We are so very happy that both of these precious babies arrived safely and that Mom's are doing very well. Both are very special to our hearts. So much fun to have future playmates for Will!
So....if you've gotten through this super post you're amazing! Lots of love to you all and, hopefully, I'll talk to you soon!

First Day...

Eryn Jane's, well, 2nd day, actually, of Kindersteps! She loves it and is doing very well! All GREEN LIGHTS so far! Which means EXCELLENT behavior! Way to Go E.J.! I thought I was SOO ready for her to go to school and was actually wishing it was full day! But, when I drove away I started talking to Will and he didn't really talk back.... then, I started to cry!

Jensy's trip...

Jens went to Europe on a work trip the last week of summer! He was able to go to Berlin and see our good friends Josh, Tanya & Hannah (they're living there for 6mos. for work as well) I was sooo jealous! Then, after his work was done in Berlin, Italy, Scotland, Ireland, and London, he took a Chunnel train to Paris, where he watched the end of the Tour de France. It has been his dream and I'm so glad he got the chance to go, I just wish I could've gone with him. It happened to be on our 12th Anniversary! Yeah...My husband was in Paris, France WITHOUT ME on our ANNIVERSARY! It's OK,..he brought me a T-Shirt! (that I really like, by the way, it's cool!) We missed him and are sooo glad he's home!

In Paris.. with out me...

Jens waiting for the cyclists...
but, he DID call me... right AFTER he called his best friend in Oregon!

...to tell me he was thinking of me. He took like 10 pictures of this statue in London because he said it reminded him of us!


Jens & Josh

Our friends the McKibben's... We miss you guys!!! Thanks for showing Jens a good time!

and...thanks so much for the hat and the shoes.... now Will looks like Josh in his stylin hat! So Cute!

Of course he took a lot more pictures, but these were just some of my favorites. Next time.....I'm making sure I go with him!!!

daily funnies...

I haven't done these in a while, but since school has started back up this week my little Eryn Jane has had a lot of funny moments.

POTTY MOUTH...
She has been learning to buckle her seat belt now that she's in a BIG GIRL booster seat. When I picked her up from school yesterday she was having some difficulty. She kept saying, "I CANT DO IT!" over and over again. Then she let out one of her infamous "UGGGH!"'s and said, " This frickin' seat belt! This FRICKIN! FRICKIN! SEAT BELT! "
Woops! What have we been teaching this girl????


WHY WE GO TO SCHOOL...
She heard me talking to my Mom on the phone today....I'm meeting her at her home after I drop Eryn off to school. Eryn was sad. She said, "but, I want to go to Grandmas house too."
I said, "but, you don't want to miss school!"
she said, " UGGH! MOM! I don't need school! It's just to go and get your brain big!"
Then a little later she asked me, "Mom? Do you have a big brain?"

FIRST DAY...
When I took her on her first day I was asking her what she would learn at school...
Me - "... ABC's? Numbers? How to read? "
Eryn - " UGGH! MOM! I will just learn how to do crafts and painting...like, hearts!"

TELEVISION STARS...
Briggsy was on Fox10 News yesterday morning. One of their helicopters landed at his elementary school and they were interviewing kids and asking them to tell funny jokes. As he and Reagan were leaving for school Briggs said, " Hey mom, don't forget to watch me on TV!"
Reagan - " I don't really care to be on TV! "
Briggs - " why not? "
Reagan - " well, I have my WHOLE LIFE to be on TV! "
I love listening to them talk to each other...so funny!
anyways.....I did forget to turn on the TV....I thought, Oh...they won't be on! Then, a friend called me and said, "Did you see your son on TV? He was Front & Center and telling jokes!"
Well, I felt like a horrible mom, didn't see it, didn't record it! Luckily she did and sent me a copy! Thank Goodness! It's the cutest and funniest thing EVER! If I can get it on my computer I'll post it!

Happy Birthday Mom!

isn't she just too gorgeous!
there are too many great and wonderful things to say about my mom and no matter what I'd say I'd end up leaving something out. Heaven knows how grateful I am for her and don't know where I'd be or what I'd be without her.
Thanks Mom, for the wonderful person you are and for all the wonderful things you do for me and my family.
I love you!

my mom on her bike!

My mom holding my brother Kevin! I never looked this good after I had my babies! must not have inherited her "jeans".

My mom and her family! don't you just love all the hairstyles!

so much to post...

and so little time...


here's Will's birth announcement, 2 months late! If you didn't receive one by mail, it's because I don't have your current address. So, I thought I'd post it.
Love & hello to all. I'll try to catch things up asap.