Butterfield Canyon-2009

Look who's peeking through the autumn leaves!

Every year, we head up to beautiful Butterfield Canyon to look at the fall leaves. We bring dinner with us and usually park in the same spot and have a picnic. We then go leaf hunting and enjoy the beauties of autumn. This is one of my favorite times of the year.

Sadie and McKell are like two peas in a pod

Sadie in the leaves

Our handsome Cayden

Leaf Hunting

Dinner time for Jaxson

Sadie and Ash

Sadie loved finding leaves

Best buddies - McKell and Cayden

Our traditional picnic dinner from Artic Circle

For the record...

So on Sunday, I taught Relief Society. I was subbing for one of the sisters in our ward and taught the lesson about the divine organization of the Relief Society. We talked a lot about being more of a sisterhood and helping each other and being there for each other. We also talked about how we all seem to think we are the only ones who have bad days, hard times, difficult children, etc. but of course, that isn't true. We all have these problems. Afterwards, I had a few sisters tell me that they felt this way and it felt like we, as women, tend to always put our best moments out there for the world to see (like on Facebook, blogs, etc.) as if to prove that we have it all together. We tend to measure our own personal "worsts" with other women's "bests". I have done this myself. But no more.

So, for the record. I don't have it all together...I don't even have it almost all together. Most of the time I feel like a crazy lunatic running at a frantic pace that I can't keep up with. I try to keep my house clean, but my version of clean is probably not up to the standard of others. But I figure with 5 young children, I am doing good as long as the health department isn't called, right? I usually feel like I am coming up short when it comes to my parenting and beat myself up all the time about this. I am not good at Visiting Teaching. I need to lose the "baby weight" that has never gone away after 5 kids. I am horrible at reading my scriptures and need to be better. I yell at my kids too much. I don't take enough time for myself and the things that I enjoy doing. I have major trust issues. I am SO behind on my scrapbooking...Sadie and Jaxson don't even have scrapbooks! I can't bake a good batch of chocolate chip cookies. I wish I had hardwood floors, light fixtures, backyard landscaping, a trailer, and a new kitchen table. It usually takes me about 3 days to finally get all of the laundry done each week. I am pretty much addicted to Diet Coke to get me through the day due to major sleep deprivation with a newborn. Currently Sadie has an awful smelling poopy diaper that I am procrastinating changing.

So, there you have it. Let's just be real and realize that no woman is perfect. No woman always has it all together. We all have bad days and good days and it would sure be a better world if we could turn to each other as women to build each other up, rather than being in competition with each other and an unrealistic and unattainable life. 'Nuff said.

Fun with the Peacock Boys

We have had fun the past month with Rob's brothers. Dinners, game nights, and overall fun! It was extra fun when Rob's brother, Dave, came from Florida to visit. There's nothing like partying with the Peacock boys!
Yes, they are all idiots
Ashlee, Anna, and McKell love the dress up box at our house!
My awesome "sisters" Brooke and Juliann
Jon truly takes the cake for being the biggest idiot of them all
Jaxson getting his first chance of playing Rook
Awe...so cute...do we look sleep deprived?
We had a BBQ at our house when Dave was here from FL. Here are the mighty BBQ men!
Brooke and Nena
Uncle Jon and Jaxson
Sadie LOVES her Grandpa Peacock! Here he is "babysitting" for her
This picture is CLASSIC! I am feeding Jaxson and trying to keep Sadie and her corn on the cob away from Dave in his nice suit. He was a little nervous to say the least! Cracked me up!
Of course the boys have to get together for an XBox Halo Party. This is at James and Brooke's apartment.
Love these guys! Brooke and James
Love playing Settlers of Catan!
The holy board!
Sadie loves her Jaxson boy!
"Baby Tisses!" (Kisses)
This is why Jon is never allowed to be left alone...you can't even trust him with Scotch Tape.
Jon doing the "spencer"
My cute niece and nephew - Anna and Andrew (LOVE Andrew's face in this picture!)

First Day of School 2009

We started another school year at Navigator Pointe Academy charter school this year. Cayden is going into the fourth grade and the girls are going into the second grade. It is hard to believe they are already that old! We love our school, the teachers, and friends. Here's to another great school year!!

Cayden-our awesome fourth grader!

Ashlee, all ready for second grade. Of course she broke her glasses the day before school started so she had to go her first day with no glasses. But we got them fixed quickly and she had them by the end of the week.

Cute McKell ready for her first day of second grade!

Off to school we go!

I had to include Sadie on the first day of school. She had to put on a "uniform" just like the big kids and then got her binoculars and started searching for the kids. She wasn't quite sure what to do with all of her entertainment gone off to school!

Fish Lake 2009

Another year has come and gone at Fish Lake. This year was very interesting and not the best Fish Lake trip we've ever had...but they can't all be great, right? Sometimes you have to have years that aren't great so you can appreciate the times that are wonderful, right? It made it a little tricky doing Fish Lake with a 2 year old and a 2 month old....plus the 3 older kids. Rob stayed in a little Cabin with Jaxson and I stayed in my parents' old trailer with the other 4. It was exhausting, but all in all, the kids had a great time! (Photo above-our Sunday Dutch Oven potluck desserts. YUM!)
Madi and Jaxson
Me and my sweet little Jaxson boy
Jay and Mel
These are "stacked rocks" at Fish Lake. Growing up, our parents always told us of these rocks that the Indians had stacked.
Sadie LOVED being in the outdoors! She didn't ride her bike as much as she just pulled it around...and of course had to wear a helmet just like the big kids!
Jaxson loved the fresh air. He took great naps wherever and whenever he could
Daddy and Jaxson
Our first night fishing. It was COLD, but McKell got all bundled up and fished like a champ!
Cayden the might fisherman
Aunt Miki is quite a fishing pro and Ashlee loves Miki so much. Miki let Ashlee reel in this fish the first night we were there.
A beautiful full moon coming up over Fish Lake
Hot Dog roast with Gage and Scott
McKell and Ian
Jakob and Kjaisa
Cute couple! Paul and Miriam
Eating lunch in the back of Grandpa's truck
Ashlee loved fishing...and usually named and hugged every fish she caught.
This is classic of McKell - her face when I told her she had to help me get a worm to put on her hook.
Uncle Jay is the BEST! He and Cayden have a special relationship and have so much fun together. He was Cayden's official fishing buddy and they had a great time together!
Jaydee, Ashlee, and McKell at Mill Meadow
We mostly only caught perch at Mill Meadow Res. But McKell was thrilled when she actually caught this big trout!
Fishing at Mill Meadow
Sadie and Grandma throwing rocks and sticks in the lake.

We always have a big dutch oven potluck dessert on Sunday. Yummy!
Mel and Ringo
Paul and Jakob enjoying their dutch oven desserts
Crazy girls!
Kyle and Ian
Scott, Tiff,and Baby Nate
Sweet Lexi Lou
Jared's GQ pose
Michelle and Jules
Good buddies - Jakob and Cayden
TROUBLE! Alex, Jordan, and Mel
Oh, how sweet? Brian and Marilyn enjoying their desserts
Sweet little Jaxson asleep in Grandma's trailer
The ones who started it all! My parents
This was quite a monumental year at Fish Lake because ALL 9 kids were there. We of course had to get a picture! (Me, Mel, Scott, Michelle, Shawn, Dad, Mom, Jay, Marilyn, Miki, and Miriam)

My awesome brothers
Dad and the boys
Just the girls


I love my big brother Jay!
Michelle and sweet "little" Korbin
This kid is just too cute for words!

Olivia and Kjaisa
Our cute cheerleaders
Best friends - Mary, Jaydee, McKell, and Ashlee
Marilyn and Miriam
I Love Jason!