First day of school......

So today I sent my 4th and 2nd grader on the morning bus to return again in 7 HOURS! It is such a long day, but I know they will enjoy it and I will enjoy my tea time with Ali and Madie. We are already preparing for our first tea with Grandma. She is helping me do dishes for the first time and is singing giberish.......maybe someday I will teach her a song that she can sing along to :)

WIND CAVES BY SUNLIGHT!

So we decided to do the wind caves again, but in the daylight this time. I have only one other time taken the boys on a hike, and that was at least 5 years ago, so I thought this is the time. I had SO much fun! I was proud of Zac's little legs for making it that far. Also for my father-in-law's little legs to make it that far! :) We had the boys and I, Bill, Lizzy, Sammy, Jim, Blake, Justin, Kelsey, and Caleb. We had so much fun, and the weather was actually great. Not too hot, not too cold. Next hike is the Chrimson Trail!

Wind Caves by Moonlight

So yesterday Melanie, Shana (Wood) Lee, and myself took off to the Wind Caves by moonlight. Crazy? Just a little. I think sometimes we just need a break from the mommy routine and try to find ourselves again. At least that is why I went. I use to LOVE hiking. I don't think I have been for 7 years, and man I could feel it. I felt like a 90 year old woman. Plus my nerves were a little shaky. I actually am afraid of the dark. I don't know what brought me to thinking it would be so fun!



We started at 9 p.m. just when the sun was going down. It was really fun to talk with Shana, who I had grown up with, and catch up over the last decade or so. She is really good friends with my sister so they did most of the chatting while I scanned the area for wild animals in the rear. Totally frightening for me. It was so gorgeous though. The moon was HUGE and breathtaking. I finally started calming down and getting into it, but then we took a detour and got a little lost and had to back track. That is when I panicked and thought about my children growing up without a mother. I know, I know....I stress way too much. I need to relax.

Well we finally reached our destination and it was amazing! We sat in the caves and ate the nut cluster trail mix Larry got for me, and some string cheese Melanie shared. Good times. I actually also have a fear of the caves because it slopes inside to over a cliff. I am paranoid, but hey I did it.


All in all it was a fun trip. Larry almost came looking for me because when we finally got out of the canyon to get cell connection it was after midnight! I am going to post some pictures and I hope they don't ruin all the writing. I am really not sure how to post yet and everything gets all messed up.....here goes..........

BEAR LAKE 2009

So every year we pack our entire lives in one small van and go to Bear Lake for some much needed family time and relaxation. It was a little hard this year to be completely relaxed when all we did was swat at the mosquitoes. They were EVERYWHERE and the bug spray I don't think did much. Here is a little list of things we did.
1. Britney's fun 5K all the way to Laketown!
2. Gathering Seashells with Madie on the beach!
3. Annual sand sculpturing contest!
4. Family Home Evening around the campfire!
5. Eventful ride to the buoy....LONG STORY!
6. Lots of laughter, good food, mosquitoes, and REALLY dirty kids!
oh and throw in sleeping in freezing tents at night wondering if you were going to survive another day. Sounds actually not that fun, but now that I look back at it, I loved it and can't wait for next year!

Wedding of a Lifetime!

So my little brother Randy finally got married. He married Sydne Taylor Porter, now Garner. She is so wonderful, and I'm so glad she is in our family. The girls were so excited to wear matching purple dresses, and the wedding party was out of this world! It was in Salt Lake at the Memorial House up in the Memorial park area. The food was amazing, the place was amazing, the live band, and dancing was amazing, and most of all the Porter family was amazing! We had so much fun. I only got a few pictures to share with you all. I really need a new camera. It doesn't take the best pictures.

FATHER'S DAY!

Sorry Larry, this was the only pic on our new drive of you. That is okay though because it shows what a great dad you are to take Ali Easter egg hunting. I just wanted to put up something about Father's Day and to tell Larry how much I love and appreciate all that he does for our family, and the beautiful children that we share. He is a great father, and is always concerned about his children and simply adores all of them. Thank you Larry! HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

GRASS

Look! Green stuff! And not just weeds......wow! We planted seed about a week ago yesterday. We planted after the HUGE storm that flooded Smithfield, but Sunday it started raining again, and we were sure that it had been swept away, but yesterday we were jumping up and down when we saw this. So fun! We can't wait for more, and hopefully we will see more, and not just a bushy patch in the corner of our yard.....we'll keep you posted.

My Zac turns SEVEN!!!

So my Zacker Cracker turns seven years old today! It is such a nostalgic thing for a mom to remember back to the day that they were born. I remember being induced because he was 3 days over his due date, and after Kaden's big head experience I told the midwife she had better get him out of there! I'm glad they did because he has the biggest head of the family! He was our only one born in Oregon. I think that is kind of special. I remember being able to feel nothing on 1/2 of my body and the other half was in PAIN, but when they gave him to me for the first time I just said, "Oh Zac!" I'm sure all you mothers understand, but I felt so much of a connection with him the second we looked at eachother for the first time. We were inseparable after that. He wouldn't go to ANYONE! I was constantly with him, and him by my side. At times that was really hard, he wouldn't even go with Larry, but it is just who he is. He is by far our most shy of the bunch, but he is so sweet. He hates seeing people sad, and he is definitely our peacemaker. I just love that little boy. He use to look up at you when he was young, with his HUGE blue eyes and say, "Mom, I love you.....so much." I'm so grateful that he is mine. I'm very blessed. Sorry for the big post, but I just wanted to say that on his special day. I love you Zachary Milan Francis!

Sitting Up and Spitting Up

Our little Madie is now sitting up on her own, and sometimes with help from her big sister. She also spits up alot! I've never had one like her. Now that we have started implementing carrots, and green beans it is getting worse with the staining of everything!!! Oh well, what do you do? My little niece was over today, and she said that Madie looked like a Quail with the curl on top of her head....I had a good chuckle.

CRAWLER

Today I set Madie down on one side of her room, and ran to do a couple of things, knowing that whe wouldn't go far. I came back and she was all the way across, flinging the door stopper. I couldn't believe it! So funny! That must have seemed like the coolest thing in the world to reach. I love seeing her so determined over something! I hope she keeps that throughout her life.......she also has started sitting up on her own. How the time passes. She is now 7 months old.

SIGN LANGUAGE

I don't know if you've seen signing time with
Alex and Leah or not, but this if from them.
They all did so cute. Don't let Kaden's facial
expression fool you, he actually really enjoyed
himself. Must have been nerves!

My sister in law, Tabitha, taught sign language to kids for the Spring. Kaden and Zac were both privileged to take from her. They learned so much, and loved every minute of it! I think they really loved the fact that they were the only boys in the class. Well this is them at the recital held at the Senior Citzen Center in Smithfield.

SPA WEEKEND

So my girlfriends and I spent the weekend up at Bear Lake! We had so much fun talking about bad dates, eating alot of good food, swimming, and laughing our guts out....literally out of our bodies....anyways, since only my girlfriends probably read this, I MISS YOU GUYS ALREADY!

My little magicians

My boys are way into magic! I think they will go far with this as you can see! Take it away boys! Kaden the Magician and his "servant" Zac.

MILLIONS OF PEACHES!!!!

My mom brought us some canned peaches, and Ali went CRAZY!!!

Dancer in distress!

So I have a REALLY fun video of Wes and I dancing when we were really young. I thought it would be fun with Kaden and Ali, but expect the unexpected with her. She goes from pretty princess to wrestle mania within seconds. No wonder Kaden declined in the first place when asked, "Will you dance with me?"

KEITH URBAN MANIA!!!!

So today was amazing! Larry and I called the Eagle when they said, "Caller # 10!" I thought Larry was for sure going to win, but he only was caller #4, and then I got through and they asked my name, and I screamed, "JAeLYnne FraNCis!" It was crazy. I don't remember a whole lot after that....it was all a blurr. I am so excited to go! Larry and I are going to Keith Urban and to top it off Little Big Town is opening, which we LOVE them!!!! We are so excited! Too bad it is in September. Good thing I am in school, and working alot on getting that done with by August, so what a fun end of school party right? Wow oh wow!!! I just know he will sing my favorite song, "Sweet Thing, and Everybody".........oh I'm not going to be able to sleep until then.......

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

So my brother finally popped the question! I thought he was going to never do it! My new soon to be sister-in-law is Sydnee Porter. She is so fun and cute and I am so excited for them. The date is set for the 26th of June. I thus started jogging this morning. Not only do I have a race to train for, but now on top of that I want to fit into something for the wedding. I can't even zip up my Sunday skirts yet.......so sad I know. Oh well. I'm glad he finally asked her. I'm sure they are just crazy in love and can't wait to get married like all of us felt.....little do they know huh? ha ha ha ha no seriously CONGRATS TO THEM!!!!!! I love you Randy! My baby brother is growing up...so weird....yet so sweet!

I am so stinkin lucky to have my sister so close! I love her so much, and I am ALSO lucky because she and I have two girls. The first two are 6 months apart, and our most recent girls are only 2 months apart. They are all going to be best friends! That is if Ali will learn not to force Cora to play things she doesn't want to play. She literally drags her around our house while Cora is protesting all the way. Poor Cora.....Well anyways, we finally got the two little ones together yesterday and as you can tell they bonded right away. Yes, my kids are always on the more stockier side. Thanks Randy for taking a fabulous picture! I love you Sophie, Maddie, Cora, Alison, and Melanie!!!

So ever since a month ago, my hair has started shedding! This happens after every child. It has been slowly strangling my family. I find it wrapped around toes, fingers, and everywhere else. It really has been driving me CRAZY!!!! I went to clean out the fridge, and low and behold there it was......my eye started twitching and I went to the bathroom, grabbed a handful and cut! I just couldn't stand it anymore. I have always wanted to do that and it was actually really fun, although I now need help with it.....hopefully before Sunday when I need to go to church!

SUNDAY MORNING SUNSHINE

Human puppet

This is just having fun with Madison. We think of her as our puppet. We make her do silly stuff all the time. The kids get a big kick out of it, and she is great entertainment!

So let us see if this works. This is Larry and I. As you can tell we look like marital bliss after 10 years.......ha ha ha, no really folks we've had our ups and downs, but what marriage doesn't? We are just best friends and who could ask for anything more? He is my "sweet thing" as Keith Urban would say.....or sing...

Frustrated

Well so I couldn't figure out the video posting, but I will try a picture now.......

Ode to Tabitha

Tabitha, Thank you so much for taking the time to show me how this thing works. Now I can get on, and listen to Sweet Thing by Keith Urban and see my cute background, and it really just makes my day. So today I made homemade bread, and I got a bit of Alison kneading her dough. If all goes right I will be able to post it on here......well here goes....

How do I do this?

I am really so confused with this whole blog thing, and I hope I can get either Tabitha or Jenny over to come help me. They have such cute blogs, and I totally need help. I finally know how to get in, but how do I make this cute?