Wow, it's been a long time since I've even ventured much farther than Pinterest or Facebook lately.  I don't really know how long it's been since I've been on here but here's a quick update for those who care. Aaron graduated from the University of Utah um...2 years ago? Tristan is 7 and in 2nd grade. Olivia is 5 now, if you don't remember this don't worry she'll remind you that she's 5 now, and in ALL DAY Kindergarten. Maddison is going on 10 months.  

We haven't had much happen in a while but it seems this last year has been emotionally hard.  We decided to have another baby at the beginning of last year and were expecting November of 2014.  I had always said that once we had number 3 I would quit my job. In June we put our house up for sale and it sold in a week. The night before everything was to go through I texted my realtor and told her we couldn't go through with it. We couldn't sell our house. I had a sick feeling about selling and I've had further confirmation that we are to stay put for a while. Fortunately we were able to back out and are still in our home. I quit my job at the end of August. Aaron started a new job in September which he is now losing.  
So we are both freaking out in our own ways.  I'm a lot more vocal than he is so my freaking out is a lot more obvious. I've called my sister in tears and asked her if I could come over and help her pack as she is getting ready to move into her new house.  I found out that as long as I keep myself busy my freaking out subsides quite a bit, especially when I am focusing on others and helping them.  I have also come to realize how blessed I really am.  I live close enough to my kids school that we walk together every morning and they can walk home with friends after.  My family is all well and healthy.  My kids love rice.  We've cut back on a lot which I have noticed is harder on the parents than the kids.  I mean my kids love rice, they would eat it every day. Plain old rice with butter.  Lucky for us right now rice is cheap and it goes a long way.  I on the other hand am going nuts.  We have been eating left over pork from my sister's wedding reception. Pork. Every. Single. Day. for about the last 2 weeks. I'm close to gagging. I love food and I love a variety of food so the same thing every day is wearing on me. But I know that it won't last.  My husband will find another job and we'll be ok. 
I have also been trying to exercise my faith in my Heavenly Father that everything will work out.  I have been reading the Book of Mormon a lot more and praying several times a day pleading for answers.  I have found that my clarity in reading my scriptures has increased, I mean it was pretty much nonexistent.  I would read but not really process what I was reading.  I have found a love for the scriptures that I thought I already had.  It's awesome.  I am reading my favorite series, Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites, and I find myself debating on reading another chapter in the scriptures or my book.  I've never had that desire before and I love it. My faith still wavers from day to day.  Some days I feel very optimistic, the days Aaron has an interview, but completely down on others.  It's a roller coaster of emotions for sure.  I mean I'm pretty much in the front seat on my own roller coaster but this one has thrown twists and turns that I can't see the end of. Our Bishop spoke on Sunday and I really took to heart a part that he shared.  He said that when we feel like we've reached the end of our rope we need to realize that there is an end to that rope.  It doesn't last, our ropes have an end.  Our suffering has an end.  My roller coaster ride will end. 
Aaron is still searching for a job, he has an interview today actually.  I know that it won't last and we will be ok but I am grateful for the experiences that I am having.  I'm noticing the little ways blessings have been showing up.  Vegetables from a neighbors garden. A box of diapers, wipes and a can of formula from my sister. Texts from friends with job links.  Prayers in our behalf. Serving others to help me forget myself, but in a good way.  Even though I am going through something tough right now doesn't mean I can't help others. We all go through tough things but I know that we are being put through the refiners fire and we will come out stronger and more beautiful in the end.

Much love,
Nicole

At the pumpkin patch.

We ended up getting 75lbs. worth of pumpkins!

My mom got these glow wands for the kids for Halloween but we forgot to get them.

We had them out the other day and we had to leave the house dark the whole day so they could play with them.

Us at Aaron's work for trick or treating.




Me and the kids at Sharon's work for trick or treating.

Olivia would not let me get a good picture of her in her costume.

So this is the back of her as she is looking at the water fountain.

We waited until the last minute so this is what we came up with for Aaron.

He was supposed to be a Geisha but I don't know what this is.

He ended up winning best cross dresser at work and got a $50 gift card to Best Buy.

At the ward trunk or treat.

Tristan painting our little pumpkins.

"Olivia" painting her little pumpkin.

Everyone's having so much fun!

Olivia

Olivia trying to be big and carry the pumpkins.

The animals at This is the Place kept trying to eat her tutu.

I didn't get a picture but the cow actually was chewing on it and I had to literally yank her away and a worker had to come and help get the cow to move away from us.

Her first pony tail!

She has the whole playground at the Zoo and this is what she chooses to play with.

We went to Thanksgiving Point to do some "digging" but the site was closed so we went to the ice cream shop instead.

Olivia is eating her ice cream cone with a spoon.

She kept going back and forth between the bowl and her cone.

In an egg at Hogle Zoo.

Olivia loves this spot.

We got this from our neighbor and still haven't done anything with it.

She loves that she can climb on it and it's her own space.

She will even fight Tristan off of it if he tries to get on with her.

This is her getting ready to go on a bike ride.

My mom got some coats for Olivia and we were trying them on.

She loves this one!

She wanted to leave it on even though it was still summer.

This is probably one of my most favorite things in this world. I have been without it for a while because we can't find any stores that sell it other than the Commissary on military bases. I loved this stuff so much my mom would mail it to me while I was in school in Idaho. I finally ran out of the stash she had sent me and have been missing it for several months. Well my family took a trip to Hill Air Force Base and my mom bought me the biggest bottle she could find. I pretty much hugged the bottle when she gave it to me. Crazy I know but I love this seasoning! Thanks Mom!

Olivia drinking her Jello. She was such a mess by the time she was done but at least she enojoyed it.












Tristan loves this little green guy. He's a slow sign that a family has in their front yard and Tristan always says "look there's Astro Boy!" I don't know why he calls him that, maybe it's the red hat.
















Olivia trying to decide if she is really allowed to eat her cake. She dove into it right when we gave it to her and then a few of us yelled no because we wanted her to wait but we just ended up scaring her off. She eventually ate it.








This is the birthday cake I made for Olivia. It was a cake pan, I am not that creative, but it didn't take me as long as Tristan's did. It looked better in person, it looks dark in the picture.













This was Olivia's little "smash" cake. The butterflies were leftovers from Great Grandma Walkers birthday cake. We washed them off of course.

We ended up spending Olivia's actual birthday at Lagoon for Sharon's work Lagoon day. Lagoon was also celebrating their birthday as well so we had to get a picture under a huge Happy Birthday sign. It was a fun day and it ended with Olivia and Tristan falling asleep as Aaron and I held them on inner tubes in the lazy river.

Insanity

As some of you know I was doing Insanity work out video's with my family. My dad and I were the only one's left in the end. We are officially done. I have noticed a difference in my physic (?) but I must say that I am very happy to be done with it. It was, to not be cliche, insane. It is nice to sleep in again and not be so exhausted. I am taking a week off and then will resume other workouts of my choosing.
Our family is doing well. Tristan and Livvy are both back to sleeping through the night on a more consistent basis. They both love to be outside and playing and love the water. We have them signed up to take swimming lessons this summer so we will see how that goes. I am very excited as we are making it a family thing and are doing the "Mommy and Me" classes. I will be with Livvy and Aaron will be with Tristan.
We have been trying to attack our yard this summer and so far we have transplanted a few things and planted tomato plants and strawberries. We have seen some tomatoes starting and honestly I couldn't tell you exactly where my strawberry plants were even planted. We finally have aquired a weed whacker so that is helping our back yard to not look so scary. We look forward to getting our yard even managable right now it is in the "taming" stage. Good luck to everyone else out there with their yards.

Some Summer Fun

Enjoying the flowers at Aunt Shellie's.

Cooling off after a long day at the Zoo.

Playing in the ice bucket with Mckaylee.

Lounging under the picnic table with Mia.

Doing tricks at Great Grandma Walkers.

Mitch, Tristan and Livvy at Owen and Crissy's wedding.
I had to leave the ceremony because they were being too noisy!

C'mon Mike, give us a taste!

As I have said before, just give Livvy some food and she's bound to be friends with you.

She was actually on his shoes trying to get a taste!

We have had a good summer so far and look forward to so much more fun!