Oh where has my October gone?

It's been awhile since the last post, and I'm sure everyone who reads this knows why. I think I talk about it at least once in every conversation I have. Our new house, Chads second job(that he doesn't get paid for, in fact he spends everything he made that day and then some), the reasons for my constant headache. Now don't get me wrong, our new house also brings positive feelings too. I am excited to have a larger home, a big yard, pool, and to be close to family, my kids can walk outside and get on the bus, so there all lots of positives...it's just hard to see them all this week. Some people have asked us if we have taken pictures...yes...some. I will post them. The thing I will miss the most about this move is leaving our ward. I love Pasco 4th ward so much. I have learned so much from all the wonderful people in our ward. Today was our primary program and our last Sunday there. I was a blubbering idiot. I cried through most of the program and then our primary had me and all the girls come up during closing exercises and they gave us a beautiful card and cookies and sang my favorite primary song to us...the tears immediately started again. Then Sarah started crying and so that made me cry harder. Thank goodness for waterproof mascara that held up really well today. The youth gave Chad an awesome tool bag filled with goodies and a card. Thanks Staci and Shannon for making us feel so loved today. I will never forget my time in the 4th ward. Change is hard for me...really hard, but I can do hard things, and so I will!

Here are a few pictures of things we have been working on...well Chad has been working on. building a new post and banister for the staircase. Trimming out the windows, painting rooms, replacing all the doors. Since the time I took these pictures a few days ago, even more has been done, so these pictures are a little outdated. If you want the most current picture, just come over and visit. Chad is there from 5pm until 2 am almost everyday. And because of this, this is what Chad has developed yet again. We call it his stress indicators. He got them the last time we remodeled a house. This is the biggest one yet. This picture also makes it look like chad has lost an ear. Not so, both are still attached, just a bad angle with the camera.

google fun

Here is a fun idea I saw on my cousin Emily's blog who saw it on her friends blog...anyway the rules are to type in each of the answers under google images and post the first picture to come up. Here it is.

First Name: Rachel

ok, so this wasn't really the first one that popped up, but it's the first appropriate one that popped up. Now don't you all go and google my first name...

Middle Name: Lee

Last Name: Haertling

I don't really now what this has to do with Haertling, except it came up and said Charles Haertling in Dwell, maybe a long lost relatives homestead...looks interesting.

Age: 33

One of NASA's newest rockets. That makes being 33 feel really fast, and cool!

A place you want to visit someday: Hawaii

This picture makes me want to go there even more.

Favorite vacation spot: Twin Lakes, Washington

Ok, so this was not the first picture to pop up either, but because I love this place so much, I had to post the picture that was the closest to my memories picture and this was it.

Past celebrity crush: Kirk Cameron

I think I might have even had this picture on my wall!

College Major: Marriage...yep just marriage

Place I grew up: Pasco, WashingtonFirst Job: Bailing Hay

This here is a picture of Ray...of Ray Robinson farms. If you look close you would see that maybe Ray is in the wrong vehicle...he looks like he should be in a sleigh with eight tiny reindeer shouting "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night".

Favorite Dessert: Chocolate Lava cakes

Favorite Food: Roast beef and mashed potatoes

Favorite Color: Green

Someplace I went today: Lowe's

BIG SURPRISE!

What's for dinner tonight: Whatever you can find in the fridge

Just the two of us

My mother in law called this week and asked if she could come and pick up ALL four girls on Friday after school and take them down to her house to spend the night and she would bring them back on Saturday. It was a hard decision...wait a minute are you kidding, I could hardly hold back my excitement, but I calmly told her yes that would be fine and then my mind started planning the weekend...alone. Dinner, a movie, maybe I could finish reading my book. Well, my plans didn't go exactly how I had planned them in my head, but here is a little preview of what we did. This picture is for mature audiences only...ha ha.

How romantic huh? We spent our free evening without children at not only Lowe's, but Home Depot too. We did stop and eat at Panda Express, which is one of my favorites in between stores. It actually was fun to see Chad and not have to worry about the kids, and he even pushed me around on the cart...it was late, I was getting tired and we had been there for two hours. The kids were totally spoiled in true grandma fashion. Chuck E. Cheese's, make overs, girly movies. They loved it. Thanks Cheryl! Maybe she will offer again AFTER the remodel is complete so my night without children dream can come true.

It's Picture Day!

Well, picture day is here. So far in my mothering career, my kids have been pretty good about letting me pick out a reasonable outfit or they come up with one on their own that is good, for picture day. Sarah has had her outfit picked out since before school began. I guess that comes with being 11 years old and a being a girl. Hannah doesn't really care and went with the one I suggested and then Rebekah walked out of her room. Now she doesn't have school until after lunch, but I guess she wanted to get a head start on the day, so this is the outfit she came up with. Now the sad thing about this is that she did not put this on to get a laugh. She is totally serious about this. Thank goodness I have until 12:10 to change her mind.

I don't know what is with the one purple sock. I thought it was just for an extra laugh, but no...she still has it on and never once acted like it was weird. What have I created!

Grateful

1. The most beautiful fall weather anyone could ask for. I love living in the Tri-cities and one of the biggest reasons is this weather. Cool mornings and evenings, warm days, clear blue skies and no wind. I love it.

2. 4 beautiful girls playing outside together in the beautiful fall weather, with only minimal fighting.

3. A husband who knows how to do everything, at least when it comes to renovating a house. It sure saves some money, but I won't see him again until Christmas.

4. The safe arrival of my beautiful little niece Emiline! She is here and she looks just like her mom.

5. When you see the light bulb flash on in your kids mind when they finally understand something and maybe can cut homework time down a bit. PLEASE!

I'm an Aunt...again

Congrats to Dave and Tara on the safe arrival of there first little girl. She was born this morning at 9:08am. No name or weight yet. I talked to Dave, not Tara, our detail person. I'm sure I will get more details later, they were just trying to get lots of call done quickly. I am so thankful she is here safely and that the delivery went well. Tara has had her share of hard pregnancy's, so I was grateful this one went smoothly. I hear she has lots of dark curly hair just like Tara did when she was born. I can't wait to meet her.

It's my first tag!

I was tagged by my good friend Wendy. So the rules are to tell 5 things that nobody knows or are unique about you. I think I share every detail of my life with everybody, so this might not be very interesting but I will try to think of a few.

I used to think I was a camping person and even told everyone that I loved camping. I wanted camping equipment for birthdays, wedding presents etc. I don't know why I ever thought this, because since I was little, I never would sleep well in a tent. In fact when we would camp in the back yard, as soon as all of my brothers and sisters were asleep, I would high tail it into the house. I was scared to death out there, I heard every sound and was sure someone was lurking in the bushes. Anyway I have come to accept my fears of sleeping in the outdoors and I don't ask for camping stuff anymore....except for a motor home, now that's my kind of camping.

I would rather mow the lawn than do dishes any day. I love to be outside (except when I sleep) and so my mom would always send me out to do yard work, because she knew I was worthless in the house. I didn't ever think this was odd until one day when I was babysitting a little girl, she was outside with me while mowing the lawn and she told Sarah that she didn't know that moms knew how to mow the lawn. I thought everyone loved mowing as much as I did. You can think without kids interrupting your thoughts and those diagonal lines across your yard and the smell of the grass are so rewarding.

One of my favorite kinds of music is monster ballads from the 80's and 90's. They remind me of church dances and high school. Chad found a great monster ballad CD for me for Christmas a few years ago and I love it. Do those ballads bring back memories for anyone else. Music brings back the most vivid memories for me.

I climbed to the top of Mt. Adams when I was in high school with my good friend Whitney. Actually, I think one of our secrets is that we made it to the FALSE summit, but I'm sure that the real summit was right around the corner. It was a trip that I will always remember. I did sleep in a tent that time but, I had no where to run for safety, I was on the side of a mountain.
We got to slide down a huge snow chute on our way down. That was exciting, and I think we almost lost Whitney on that slide. The Fox family always had exciting outdoor adventures. I am glad I got to be a part of that one.

Ok sorry this one is weird, but I am digging deep for things...sorry. When I blow my nose, air comes out of my tear ducts...actually bubbles come out my tear ducts. I thought that might be normal, but nobody else seems to think so. I have always thought my sinus region was messed up and now I am pretty sure it is.

Ok so there you go. 5 really weird things about me. I am tagging both of my sisters Ashley, Kristen H., Niki R., and Amy C.

Sorry, but could I add a 6th thing...I don't know how to link people's names with their blog address, as you can see above I tried, but if you click on them it doesn't work. I need help, I am the worst computer person out there.

Emma!

I thought about adding this to my last post, but decided it deserved a whole post of it's own. Emma keeps our home lively. We love her very much, and laugh alot because she is in our family. Here is a little peak at why we laugh so much. This is just her. No posing, no prompting, just Emma!

No, the marathon didn't kill me, I just have been a little busy.

Well, my last post was the marathon and that has been a while. I will try to do a quick catch up.

First of all, to answer the most frequently asked question...We are still trying to sell our house. Heavenly Father is teaching me patience and I must not be getting it. We bought a new house and are currenly doing some remodeling and updating. It is going to be a great house.

We had some fun trips this summer. We spent some time in Northern Idaho and then visited Silverwood on the way home. Although the lines were long and the weather not so great we had a good time and I loved the new rollercoaster Aftershock! We also went camping with the Caziers and had a blast. I can't find my pictures but I think Amy posted some on her blog.

The girls started school...I have a 5th grader, 3rd grader and Kindergartner. I can't believe this is Sarah's last year in elementary school and that Rebekah is in school now. Life flies by. In the afternoons it's just Emma and I. It's been good to spend some one on one time with her.

Sarah turned 11! One more year until Young Woman's. I feel like I was just there so I certainly can't have a daughter that is almost there. She had a fun day and I was grateful for the good friends she has chosen. Aren't those some cute toes. They all got pedicures and then off to Red Robin for lunch...so much fun!

I am such a summer person and I loved every minute of it, but I am glad to get back into a routine with school and soccer and homework. I can't wait to see what this new school year brings...hopefully a quick sale of our house.

Do you ever just feel like running a half marathon?

Let me tell you a crazy story...About three months ago my sister Jen asked me if I would be interested in running a 1/2 marathon down in Bryce Canyon. I thought about it and thought about the training involved and felt a little overwhelmed, but thought it would be an adventure. Well after checking my calender, I realized that it was during the same weekend that we would be going out of town and so I told her I couldn't do it. Well about two weeks ago our plans changed and I realized that I would be available. But knowing that I had not been training I quickly put the idea out of my head. But last Thursday (2 days before the race) I called my mom and asked her if she would like to go to Utah with me to cheer Jen on in her race, and maybe even run with her. We decided in a matter of one hour to go (that is really unlike Henry decision making...we usually take at least a week to make these kind of decisions) anyway by midnight on Thursday we were in Provo. Can you believe that I left my family out of the blue....and Chad agreed to watch the girls...all in one hours time frame? I am still surprised. Anyway on Friday afternoon, we headed down to Bryce Canyon which is in southern Utah to run a half marathon. I was very nervous because I had not trained, but I decided to do it. Once I decided the nerves really hit me. I couldn't eat (which I thought wasn't good since I was running 13 miles in less than 24 hours) I couldn't sleep, and I had never run more that 3 miles at one time. Well....Saturday morning at 6:00am we started the run and I did it. I really did it. I even surprised myself and ran alot faster than I thought I could. I never stopped, and at 2 hours 7 minutes and 31 seconds I crossed the finish line. It was emotional, exhilarating, and exhausting. The only thing I can compare it too...and don't laugh...but the adrenaline rush that I get after I have a baby...that is kinda how I felt at the end. Maybe it is the so called "runners high" that I always hear about but had never experienced. The next two days were filled with a lot of ibuprofen and sore muscles, but it was all worth it. I have to say thanks to Jen for encouraging me to do this and running with me. The run was in one of the most beautiful canyons, and it was fun to enjoy it with her. My mom and Cory ran the 5K run and they both got second place in their age divisions. They were amazing! Besides the running, I also got to see the Manti temple on our way to Bryce Canyon...it was beautiful, I got to see Bryce Canyon, see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing at Music and the Spoken Word. It was definitely a great break for me away from the kids and I felt totally renewed when I got home on Monday. Chad and the girls had a great time while I was away. Trips to the park, pizza parties, dessert at Applebees, and movie nights. It is so nice that I can leave and not have to worry about if things will be ok at home. Chad never acts like it's a big deal. Well sorry this was so long but it was an amazing trip for me. Here are some pictures of the weekend events. Thank you to Jen and Cory for letting me and mom invade their home at the last minute and drive with them down to the race.

The Manti Temple

Jenn and I coming to the finish line

My mom getting her second place medal after the race.

amazing Bryce canyon

The Mo Tab live...in this picture they are singing The Battle Hymn of the Republic. They actually have won a Grammy for this song. They were singing it for a special group that was attending the spoken word that day. We got to sing with them at the end under the direction of Mac Wilburg. It was pretty amazing.

Grandma's know everything....almost

Today Sarah said to me "mom, are these gold coins real dollars?" I told her they were. She continued to ask about them...were they collector items, could you really use them at the store, and I told her yes, they were just them same as a paper dollar. She told me that while shopping with grandma the other day, grandma said that she had never seen the gold dollar coin before and that maybe she should keep it and save it. So I guess that's where the questions came from, but what she said next was what I loved.

Sarah--well mom, grandma hasn't seen these dollars before, so maybe they aren't real, because there are not many things that grandma doesn't know........Except Lowe's.

Me--Lows??

Sarah--you know Lowe's...like tools and stuff.

So, mom, you are the woman. You know everything...except Lowe's. Maybe you and dad should go there for your date nights, then you will know everything.

A Patriotic FHE

Last night we decided to teach the girls a little bit about why we celebrate the fourth of July. Now attention spans are short, so I don't know how much they will remember, but I want my kids to have a deep love and appreciation for this great country that we are blessed to live in. We talked a little about how the founding fathers of our nation were inspired men. And that they prepared a place for the gospel to be restored to the earth. We talked about showing respect for our flag and the proper way to fold it. They thought that was fun to fold the flag and they all took turns doing that, then we got to the part they might remember the most...the craft! We made our own 4th of July t-shirts. We had a great night. Here are some pictures of us creating our patriotic masterpieces!

a true picture of summer

This is a pretty typical picture of my kids on any given summer day. Dirty, knees and elbows covered in bandaids, swimsuits...always, eating cool treats, HAPPY!

Happy Birthday Ashley!

A very happy birthday song from some easily distracted girls. Hope you have a great day Ashley! We love you and miss you.

I'm Having a party!

For all of you out there that are looking for that perfect swimsuit for the summer...your in luck. I am having a Modbe party at my house on Saturday, June 21st from 10:00am to 1:00pm. If you have never heard of Modbe, or want to see what they have to offer see http://www.modbeclothing.com/ I love their swimsuit selection for this year. Please come and take a look and bring a friend too. If you need directions to my house please call me. 545-6505

Camping Extavaganza

Camp Zarahemla

This past weekend we headed up to Camp Zarahemla for a little family camp out. Tara and I had planned this about 2 months ago and we invited any and all of our family members who wanted to attend. I was excited about this trip because I haven't been camping for probably 6 or 7 years and so I forgot all the before and after work that goes into camping. Anyway we got there on Thursday evening. We had beautiful weather, although a little chilly at night for my liking. It was so amazing to be out in nature, and so nice not to have TV, cell phone service (well, I didn't at least, I think I might need a new plan, because everyone else seemed to have service) or computers. The kids did a talent show for us the first night, which featured Luke as our family comedian. We also enjoyed canoeing, fishing (didn't even get a bite) and just sitting by the campfire enjoying one anothers company. My family is amazing, and all the before and after work was totally worth it. The freezing cold night on a air mattress that felt like a giant ice cube was worth it. Thanks to Tara for getting everything arranged, thanks to Jenn for traveling all the way up from Provo to camp with us, thanks to Nate and Staci for giving up the father and sons to camp with us, and thanks to Mom, Dad and Ash for making the trip. I will always have fond memories of this trip. Now off to switch my 17 load of laundry.

P.S. Thanks to Dave for the pictures...my camera is not working.

Chad and his fisherwoman daughters on a little canoe ride

I cant tell you how many times I put these little shoes on those little feet and saw that little bum crack. Funny girl that Emma is.

my patient little Hannah fishing without ever getting even a bite.

Rebekah's motto has always been "safety first" . I love that wispy blond hair blowing across her face. So cute.

One year ago today...

One year ago today, this beautiful marriage took place

at one of the most beautiful places on earth.

We are so lucky to have Ashley in our family. She is always so happy, and my girls think she is perfect. Although you two aren't together on your 1st year anniversary, we are glad we get to see Ashley while she is home visiting. Marcus, I hope you have a good day, sorry you are alone, but your beautiful bride will be home soon. Thanks for sharing her with us. We love you guys. Happy 1st Anniversary...and many many more.

Here are a few others that wanted to say happy anniversary...

Our big announcement

Well, I've been a little nervous about posting this but....









































Well, it's been a long time since we have had one of these around our home....



































The girls are so excited and Chad is so happy to have some more male influence in our home....






































We were nervous that it had been too long and we wouldn't be ready to take another on, but....



































we finally did it....we got 3 new kittens

Ok, so I am not a good animal photographer, but this was the only one I could get with all three of them in it. A friend of ours was pretty sure that we not only needed a kitten but three of them. They had 13 of them and she was trying to get rid of them. They are cute, they keep my kids occupied OUTSIDE, and I can't complain about that. They poop in a box and hopefully catch mice. They are all males, so no baby kittens at our house. We think they look a lot like Chad...except for the hair.