Funeral for Grandpa Fife

This past Friday we attended a funeral for Bart's grandpa, Robert Layne Fife (inspiration for our daughter Layney's name). He would have been 92 tomorrow and it was sad to see him go. Not one person could remember a time he wasn't happy or lost his temper- even through some of the stories that were told by his children. He was an amazing man, and it was nice to have our kids know such a warm and loving great grandpa, and then get to experience a beautiful funeral and get to ask a million questions about death and what happens next. I am amazed at the faith that children have.

Quote of the day: Dyson asked, "Why are there so many packs of tissues laying around. Is that to wipe the drips from your eyes?"

Best quote of the day: After a fairly lengthy dedication of the grave, we all said Amen and my 4 year old nephew Maddox yelled out loudly "Wow, that was a long one!!!" Everyone laughed and he started crying from embarrassment.

What is she doing now?

I've been busy with many projects at work lately, so I thought I'd describe a little about what I do. I recently helped the designer I work with take a 17,000 square foot building and divide it into different office spaces (concept wise). First we left it as one space in case a large company wanted to lease it. Then we divided it into 2 spaces. Finally we split it into 3. I drafted the plans on the computer and we had them mounted for a large presentation meeting Thursday. Then I got to do what I love. Pick three different possible color schemes for people moving in to choose from or get ideas from. It's fun to see it all come together, and the most rewarding thing is to have everything neatly mounted and presented. I like being meticulous and having everything perfect on the boards. In some areas of my life I wish I wasn't such a perfectionist. In my work life, I'm glad I am!

SOCCER MOM

Wow! I guess I've been busy. I hadn't noticed it has been a few weeks since I last posted. Soccer has taken a major toll on our schedules, but the kids sure LOVE it! It is worth the sacrifice for them to have so much fun and they really do improve each and every day out there. Dyson had an interesting thing happen the last game. The boys play pretty tough and there are a lot of collisions and rough-housing going on. During the last game, Dyson ran over after a group of boys banged into each other and handed us.... his tooth! Easy as that! It was loose for several weeks, but I guess there's nothing cooler than saying he got a tooth knocked out playing soccer.

Taylen and her friend Katie McMillan


The Wild Ones Team


Dyson and his buddy Vince


The new smile!

Bubbles

I have always loved taking pictures. I took several photography classes at school, but it takes a lifetime of practice to get your kids to do what you want in a picture. I am proud at a few I have taken recently of the kids. One I am not posting, because it may be a christmas surprise! The other one is of Layney looking way too cute here......


Of course, Taylen always hams it up-


Aren't sisters fun? I know Dyson prays every day for another boy to come into our family to rescue him!

Labor Day with the cousins

It was fun to see my brother-in-law Derek and sister-in-law Denise last weekend. My kids always like to spend time with their cousins, Lake, Mailey, and Leila. They used to live here but now are down in Valencia, and it seems like its only a few times a year anymore that we get together. Time nor distance doesn't change anything though. Right out of the car, they all get into playing like they have never been gone, and now that the two oldest are 9 years old, the shenanigans never end. Grandma and Grandpa are wiped out after the weekend is over, as we spend most of our time there because they have the pool!

Leila, Mailey, Taylen and Layney


Maddox (the other cousin who lives here), Lake, and Dyson
I told them to all strike a "cool" pose. You can see how age affects what they do!


A night out to dinner while grandma and grandpa had the kids. The pic of the guys was REALLY bad, or I would have posted it. Aaah- forget it- I'll put it in anyways. Hey- I told them to smile, and this is the best they could do...
Me, Brittney, Denise, Kelly (you may as well be family, girl)


Bart, Derek, Damon, Scott




By the way, sometimes I want to shoot whoever came up with Play Doh. It never stays on my table at home. I may as well have the kids start out on the floor. Check out how they put up barriers so their secret creations can't be seen by anyone else. Then I have to be the judge of whose is best. Not a fun chore when you have six pairs of big eyes staring up at you.

The "TUBE" at Wolf Lakes

We have spent many fun times out at the lake with the Burbidges, and let me tell you, the kids just love getting pulled on the tubes by Garrett. In my assessment, he is kind of a ruthless driver to some of the kids who don't frequent the lake as much as his own family does. I have only seen a few cry, but for the most part he gets them leaving the lake tougher and stronger than when they came- with the exception of Dyson who won't be caught dead on the tube ever again after his last wipeout!

I got several video footages, unfortunately the best rides were not caught on tape, but you get a feeling for the sense of adventure some of these kids have 'tube-hopping' and seeing who can push who off of the other tube first. Fun times!



Some other pics with friends at the lake.......















See how Dyson is smiling so big- no fear, because he his chillin' out on the boat with mom and laughing at all the other kids bite it in the water!

An A-HA moment

Dyson has been saying a lot of really funny things lately to make me laugh. I never took the time to write them down before, but they are worth remembering.
The other day when he was acting up, somehow the idea of Santa came up. I agreed that he may not get the big Lego set or other things he wants from Santa if he isn't good during the year. He said, 'Oh yeah, or else he'll just bring me some of that dirty black stuff from our grill.'

Then he got into a deep conversation while he was in the tub. After being in there about 1 1/2 hours playing, he decided he'd rather talk about impt. stuff than play with the foam letters any more. He asked when Jesus would be at church since it is his house. I explained that he is there in spirit, and he never really lived there. Then he asked where he lived. Although he knew the answer already, he seemed surprised when I said heaven, and he proceeded to ask me where Jesus would find a costume up there. For what? To be baptized in. I said, "Dyson, Jesus was already baptized here before he died. Remember, we are learning the song about Jesus being baptized in Primary?" He had a big a-ha moment and then asked where he was baptized. I said "remember the song... down in the river Jordan". He chuckled a little, and then it sunk in. He was thinking it happened in the font at church all along. He said "mom- this is really a river? I can't believe this stuff. The Jordan River is a real place like they say. This is too cool." Maybe you had to be there, but I just laughed because after learning all this stuff week after week, he didn't believe it all really happened. It is like just a big story to him. I guess we better get more serious at FHE!