Well, it is official.  Moroni won today.  I keep thinking that I am up for the challenge that he provides, but today he is way more than I can handle.  I will try to admit defeat gracefully and move on.  It has been quite the week.
     Jerusha decided to open a snack bar for after school hours.  This is a cute idea and all, but I found ritz crackers in every nook and cranny imaginable.  In the corner, under the table, in the bookoo fudge.  In a rage I shut down the snack bar.  Jerusha begged and begged and I finally consented to let her reopen it if she cleans up some of the outrageous messes.  I am not seeing much improvement.  Jams and Sags want the opportunity to run the snack bar too, and so they changed it to the Bundy snack bar.  Anyhow, anytime Ryan and I run anywhere she has a list of supplies that she needs filled in order to run the snack bar.  It is getting to be a little out of control.  At least they aren't begging me for snacks though.  One of the items on her menu is a banana blast.  This has a banana, caramel, and whipping cream.  Jazzerz somehow got whipped cream all over her shoe, and then tracked that cream all over the house.  I have found smashed bananas in my carpet, and yogurt on the windowsill.  Maybe I need to make sure that the snack bar does not have the "to go" option.  Anyhow, hopefully Rooshkie is gaining some cooking skills in the process.  Otherwise I vote thumbs down to the snack bar. 
     It froze this week and started to cool off, which is nice.  I love the fall weather and the changing of the leaves.  I was going to take the kids out to see the colors this week, but it got too blasted cold on Fridee to do much of anything.  Ryan decided on Saturday to get the bikes up and going though.  That turned out to be a ton of work for him, but we had a great time riding down from the waterfall into Cedar City.  It was so much fun.  I loved it.  The leaves are changing, and we all were able to ride, thanks to Ryan's fix-it skills.  I figured I wasn't going to be able to go because of Mo and Chlo.  He found and fixed up a clunky bike trailer that I had purchased at a yard sale about five years ago.  He fixed it onto the back of his bike.  Moroni and Chlo were fixed up with pillows, blankets and marshmallows.  They loved the ride.  Ryan and I also decided to go out on the town too.  In the meantime at home Mo was getting very upset at getting ditched.  He got over it though.
     Shrsh was disasterous today.  I mentioned that Mo won.  He was terrible, and I am not sure that there is going to be a light at the end of the shrsh tunnel anytime soon.  He figured that everyone had come to the building to witness Mo on parade.  I cannot reason with him that this is simply not the case.  He began running back and forth and back and forth up front (we were on the front row, which is never good)  He then began branching out with his antics farther and farther.  He ventured over to a pretty gal and begged for cereal that she had brought to shrsh for her baby, he popped up and down, up and down from behind the bench at the family behind us.  I took him out a bunch of times, but he would scream to go back in.  I could usually get him to be good for a minute looking at baby animals in a book, but then he would remember that he had a show to put on.  He got so bold as to venture onto the stand.  It was fast and testimony day, and so I felt sheepish going up there after him.  Being that I was thinking about bearing my testimony anyway, I made the mistake of picking him up, and trying to bear my testimony.  He twisted and turned and screeeeeeeched loudly.  Finally one of the counselors in the bishopric took him, but he twisted away from him too and began doing a show right by the podium.  At this point, no one was listening to what I was saying, but watching Mo and his show.  Oak was laughing so hard he was practically bawling.  I finally just left with him, and looked at pictures of Jesus in the hall.  We are in for it every Sunday, but he will grow out of it.  It just might be awhile.  Ryan attempted to take him to the Nursery, but he bawled so hard over this that he almost threw up.  He then fell asleep for awhile, only to wake up, and go back to the bishopric member.  He demanded that the baby animals book be read by him.  He did help Mo out in this, but Mo insisted that every animal in the book was a puppy.  The pigs, the goats, everything.  Puppy.  He knows horses and cows too, but he was being stubborn.
     We got home from church and Chlo made up her mind to be a spooky ghost.  She attempted to be spooky in a flowery pillowcase.  She couldn't see anything and just kind of bobbed back and forth.  Mo finally just went up and hugged her.  This wasn't what Chlo had in mind.  She wanted to spook and to scare.  I finally told her that a flowery pillowcase just wasn't scary.  Poor Chlo.
     We went on another bike ride on Sunday afternoon.  It was so fresh and wonderful.  Mo and Chlo love riding in their trailer and the kids were just loving it. The would throw an arm up and yell and it was definitely worth the trouble to fix up the bikes.  I am so glad that Ryan can fix stuff.  He is a great dad. Ryan and I also went home teaching.  It was a good weekend spent together. 
     I went walking with my friends later, and Moroni threw a fit about this.  Ryan was glad though because he finally gave up and settled down in his arms.  He slept there for quite awhile, and he usually won't go down for Ryan. I can see that Mo is going to be a Daddy's boy.  He loves tractors, and horses, and he begs and bawls to go with Dad most days.  It will be nice when Ryan can take him too.
     Well, we shall see what transpires with the snack bar this week.  I am hoping that we can keep it open with fewer messes.  Jerusha even put out a tip jar, but I noticed that no one was tipping her. 
Poor Rooshkie.

     I am loving the fall chill in the air this morning.  This is my favorite time of the year, and it is because our favorite family outings usually happened in October with the deer hunt.  When I was really young my mom would make cinnamon rolls, and caramel apples, and little ghost sugar cookies, with chocolate chip eyes.  Most of these treats were taken deer hunting.  I feel bad that we did not draw out on any tags this year.  I love to get over to Hatch, and breathe in the cold, wet leaves smell.  It is way invigorating and so I will have to go over there for a visit anyway.  Perhaps Deeb and I can cook venison and dip fries in fry sauce.  That just might do it for me. 
     We had an extremely eventful weekend.  I loved hanging out with family, and watching the kids play with their cousins.  Last week was extremely busy too.  Now that the kids are back in school, we have way too many activities going on.  That, and Jams and Sags (and Jerusha too) thinking that they need to be social all the time keep my very busy.  We started out the week kind of rough because Mo refused to get out of the car on Monday afternoon.  I had just picked the kids up from the bus stop, and I had hit the case lot sale the Saturdee before, but had yet to remove some of the items.  Anyhow, Mo wanted to play in the car, and I needed to direct traffic inside, and so I asked Oak to keep an eye on Mo as he asserted his independence.  I kept the car door open, and I kept the front door open to monitor what was going on with Mo.  Anyhow, five minutes went by.   I went outside, and Oak was still "watching" at the car door.  Moroni had broke into my jumbo sack of flour and had moved a bunch of it into different piles that he was bouncing in.  It had spread all over the van.  I asked Oak why he didn't inform me of these messy happenings and he just shrugged and said that Mo was having a great time.  I guess Oak figured that Moroni knows best what to do with a sack of flour....not so I am afraid.
     The next morning we had the privelage of trying to drop off the water trailer again.  This time Ryan left me a jack and just told me to drop it wherever and use the jack.  The tire was still bad with tread flip flapping all the way down the road.  Lovely.  I also laughed silently because the girls were all piled onto one seat that Mo had somehow missed with his flour antics.  Anyhow, inspite of the tread finally giving way and flopping up onto the roof of the car, and scaring us half to death, the floor jack was way easier to use.  It is good that Ryan can come up with ways to help me succeed in these clunky situations.  I was way happy that I was able to make that work. 
     I need to mention that Chlo has grown up tons these past few weeks.  She is now such a mature little helper.  I thought we were going to be in trouble the first few weeks of school because she was being such a sneaky mess maker.  I realized that Oak had been tattling on her non-stop for a very good purpose.  After a few horribly messy days I began calling on her to help me with specific tasks.  She helps with laundry, dishes, cleaning.  Chlo is so much help now, and I don't know what I would do without her.  We still find a few odd messes here and there, now and then, but nothing like it was.  For example, I found a few rocks that had been frosted with hazelnut spread.  This is to be expected I guess.  One morning she got up demanding that I warm up some spaghettios for her breakfast.  The thoughts of that made me gag a little bit.  I suggested a piece of toast instead, and she went off bawling and complaining that she didn't want a roast.  Yep, our communication needs improvement at times.
     Our steers went into the butcher, and Jerusha was a little bit relieved that Ryan didn't have time to butcher them.  She had kind of gotten fond of Leo, in spite of the fact that he would drag her around by the lead rope about as much as she would lead him.  I think we all would have been happy to shoot Diablo though.  He was a real jerk.
     Jams and Sags went to a friend's birthday party in Zerkleville and ended up in a big chalk fight.  When they got home, they were a blue and red chalk mess.  Jamie still looks like she has been strangled with the red chalk all over her neck.  We have scrubbed and scrubbed and it just will not come off.  I love that my kids are creative about having fun, but hey, I have no idea how these things get started.
     On Saturdee we had the Roy Bundy Reunion.  I must admit that when we first started attending this reunion I was kind of crabby about it.  A whole different set of Bundy's attend that one.  Bundy's that of course were not as familiar.  It is held on the Roy Bundy property in Enterprise, and it is a lot filled with Cedar trees and dead weeds.  I must admit now, that I am glad Ryan always insisted that we attend.  I have gotten to know these Bundy's way better, and this year, because of the rain, the property looked like a green meadow.  Instead of doing an auction, the past few years have been spent telling stories about Roy and Doretta.  They had it tough, but they held to their faith.  Roy had rheumatoid arthritis, and his kids had to carry him around for about fifteen years of their childhood.  I know the Bundy spirit, and drive to work.  I know that this must have been completely devastating to Roy.  After that long, he cut up some tires, and put them on his knees.  He then began walking on his knees, using some homemade crutches.  He gardened and ranched on his knees.  They talked about his service in the temple.  He painted a set of tires white so that he could do temple service. She had twelve kids, and did a lot of the work too.  It is impressive how some people don't let hardships hold them back.  The Bundy's are an awesome family.  I love this reunion now, and look forward to it every year.
     On Saturday evening Katie had made plans to baptize her eight year old, and bless their new baby.  We went down the road to a little pond.  By this time we were experiencing blow-your-head-off wind.  The water was way choppy, but I will never forget Daniel's baptism.  He and his Dad looked awesome in that pond, dressed in their whites.  The baby was given a nice blessing, and then it was off to rescue Mo from the local dogs that he kept terrorizing.  The wind was bad, but it didn't hinder the spirit at all.  It was a great evening.
     Yesterday Christopher Allen had his missionary farewell.  We really like Christopher.  He came to the Bundy reunion this year, and he was a great help to me with the kids.  He held a bawling Chlo, and Mo.  He and Sags also had a great melon fight.  I determined that we were not going to miss his farewell.  Oak is getting old enough that I wanted him to be there.  Anyways, Mo was just awful.  The attendance was huge.  I finally took Mo in the back.  Jazzerz joined us, and he wanted to jump on whatever chair that Jazz happened to be sitting on.  She couldn't sit anywhere without him squawking about it.  He then began rearranging chairs.  This was loud and noisy work.  He pushed chairs clear across the gym, and I let it go on for a minute because I really wanted to listen.  They had Christopher leaving, and another missionary returning.  I finally gave up and joined several others in the hall.  By that time Blake Holmstead had given up on his one year old, and several others had too.  Who can hear with Mo rearranging chairs in the back?  I personally cannot.
     We had a Dave Bundy get-together after the farewell meeting.  It was fun.  Chlo wanted to sit up on the stage.  She refused to get down, but kept demanding pieces of watermelon.  I kept obliging with the hope that she would not be so cranky on the ride home if she ate something.  By this time a bunch of other kids had joined her on her stage-perch and they kept demanding melon too.  I was running back and forth to meet their melon orders.  Ella, Alice, Paxton Houston, and Maddie Schaefermeyer were all involved.  During my wanderings back and forth, I came across Ammon and Lisa's youngest daughter.  She had removed her diaper and was mooning different groups of people.  I thought it was hilarious, she is only two.  Anyhow, when Lisa noticed what was going on, she had Halle hurry her out to get another diaper.  Good times were had by all.  It was good to see everyone again.
     The ride home got testy with all of the kids fighting over really dumb stuff.  At one point Ryan had to pull over because some of the kids needed a bathroom break.  Chlo came back from the bushes with some "hotdogs."  This made me nervous because I thought that they had perhaps found an old raggy package of hotdogs and I am sure Mo would have just helped himself.  Yuck.  But no, her ''hotdogs" ended up being those swampy cattail bushes.  Chlo swirled and twirled them into a seed mess all over the car.  See what one little decision by a kid can do?  Those hot dogs aren't cool at all anymore.  They are simply a vacuuming job for mom now.  I already filled the car warsh vacuum with flour this week....come on Chlo!  Gimme a break.

    

     Well, it has been a beautiful and rainy week.  We have been busy with school, social, and shrsh activities.  Ryan worked a ton of hours this week, when things began to dry out.  He has had to make up for lost time with all of the lovely rain.  It has been good to have him home today. 
     Jazzerz has had quite the week.  She has been bringing home a few love notes from a boy in her class.  He says that he loves her, and is sorry that he chased her around the playground.  I love it!  Jazz has also come up with quite a few interesting maladies this week.  She has even attempted to get out of house work using some of them for an excuse.  It didn't work, mind you, but she tried.  I told her to straighten her bedroom one day, and she told me that her back was too itchy.  Whatever Jazz!  She also complained of having stinky hands (this comes from handling the steers) and she was fretting over having bumps on her tongue.  I think Jazz is just fine, but maybe needs to be concerned about others instead of all of her interesting problems.
     Chlo woke up bleary eyed one night and was afraid of a zombie that she had been dreaming about.  She claimed that it was a one-eyed zombie, but she was quite upset.  I tucked her into her bed, but she has been quite obsessed with zombies as of late.  I cannot figure out where this is all coming from.  They are allowed to play the "Plants vs. Zombies" game on Jams I-pod.  Perhaps this is where her ideas are stemming from.  One morning she woke up and told me that she was grateful that all the zombies had stayed out in the yard instead of coming in the house.  She also claims that there are a few living in her closet.  Poor Chlo!  How is she ever supposed to sleep with all of those zombies hanging around like that?
     I took the kids swimming at the SUU pool on fridee.  We still had some free passes left over from swimming lessons.  Anyhow, the SUU pool is just a pool.  The kids have gotten so used to all of the toys and entertainment at the aquatic centers that they are not quite sure what to do with themselves.  I told them to just swim and enjoy it.  But, they kept hounding the staff for different things until I thought I was going to scream.  I am sure, that the life guards were way sick of my kids after being hounded for goggles, life vests, kick boards, and diving sticks and rings.  Oak had borrowed several pairs of goggles and was still not quite satisfied, when I finally put my foot down.  I told him that if he went back over there and asked for a different pair of goggles that I was going to take him home.  He bawled around about needing a larger pair for a few minutes, and then began wondering why I wasn't taking him home.  I shouldn't have mentioned home.  Anyhow, many of my threats for punishment with Oak backfire on me.  He bawled and whined and wanted me to drive him home.  He even told Jazz and a few of the girls to get out because we were leaving.  We had only been there for about 15 minutes at this point.  Anyhow, I finally told him that he did not have to swim, but could wait nicely on the bench with his towel until we were done.  He finally got into the ring diving contest that Jams had started.  The sad part about the ring diving contest was Chlo.  She doggy paddles pretty good, but I still don't completely trust her out of my arms reach.  I put a life vest on her, and she swims all over in it.  But, when it came to diving for rings, she would find one, and then float helplessly above it.  There was no way she could get down there and get it.  I would spot her floating above one, with arms flailing, and go and get it for her.  Nice floating Chlo!
     Jams and Sags went to a Slenderman party on Friday night.  I believe that slenderman is the current generation's Jason Vorhees.  They enjoy getting spooked and that is for sure. It reminded my about all of the good times playing night games with my family.  The scariest one was Jason.  We would wait until dark, and Gary would come and try to find us in our hiding places.  It was scarier than all get out. 
     Today I was way disappointed in my children at shrsh.  They were so good last week, but this week they were awful.  Chlo kept getting up in front and hopping around.  She also gathered all of the hymn books that she could find, and began making a shelter for her shoes with them.  No, Ryan and I were not allowed to sing with one because she needed all of them for the shelter. She took the one out of our hands for her roof.  Oak was assisting in this project and he was trying to sneek more hymn books.  Jamie kept putting her hand over Oak's face, and Jerusha insisted on sitting on the floor.  Jazzerz was also ticking me off by being squirrely.  I played musical chairs with a sleeping Mo trying to keep them all in line.  Not happy with them today.  Another thing that I didn't catch onto until we were sitting in sacrament meeting was the fact that the younger kids had been having a water drinking contest all morning.  Why???  Anyhow, they were needing to take bathroom breaks pretty much the whole time we were at church. 
     We have the primary program next week.  We are going to be seeing a missionary off, and will not be participating and I let the primary presidency know this fact weeks ago.  This has not stopped them from giving my kids parts and singing assignments.  I realize that they will be missing 5 kids out of their primary, but hey, I warned them.  Anyhow, I have not been pushing them to practice their parts etc.  Oak got up to practice his lines yesterday, and simply gave out a loud "BLAH."  Loud, being the key word.  I guess it was so loud that everyone had to cover their ears.  I think Oak needs to be one of those sound effect guys.  We need a positive forum for his noises.  Anyhow, after this nice practice run, they will probably be glad that we aren't going to be there.
     Oak has been enjoying Kindergarten for the most part, but some days he feels that it is just too long.  He has also come up with all sorts of interesting questions.  He wonders if elephants make friends with other elephants, and I think he still has his theories about cheeks being made out of chicken meat.  He is also still insistant that he wants to be a dragon when he grows up....a red dragon.  He likes learning time, but gets frusterated at all of the rules for recess.  For example, he was kind of shocked at the rule about not climbing up the slide.  My boys in particular like to conquer the slide by making the steep climb to the top.  I am not even sure if Mo has realized that sliding down is part of the fun.  Anyhow, it is good for Oak to have some boundaries set.  He has loved being involved in learning his letters, and numbers etc.  He always takes great pride in writing his name at the top of his papers, and I have noticed that he turns the letters into different objects most times.  Nice little Oakers.
     The first picture is of the love notes for Jazz. Oak, Ryan, and Mo had a nice boxing match, and I have included pictures below.  On Sunday we went over and visited with our friends, the Millers, and Chlo fell asleep by her doll, and the other picture is of Moroni partaking of the treats that Grandma and Grandpa H left the kids while we were out swimming.  They enjoyed the pop-kick (popcorn) all over the house.

 

 

     We had the best weekend ever!  I am so grateful for family and all of my blessings.  We didn't end up putting the steers in the livestock show.  They were and are too mean and skittish to parade around people. We did go, and learn a lot from those who did show steers though. Hopefully next year, we will figure it out.  We are just going to eat these ones, which is fine with me.  I am thinking about T-bone steak every time I go down to feed them.  They are getting nice and large.
     Jamie and Sage went over to a friend's house to hang out on Friday.  I went over to get them and they kept refusing to leave.  Since when did hanging out with their friends (I must note that some of these were guy friends)become better than helping me at home? Wow...how did that happen?  I am way cool and full of fun.
     On Saturday we had plans to celebrate little Lyvia's birthday.  Jeff and Christine are up with their kids and they don't come up very often.  We decided to meet at Discovery Park at 11am.  Well, it poured rain almost all day here in Cedar, and so everyone came to my house instead.  We had Jeff and Christine, and they had Wiley and Adeline.  Doug and Larissa brought Lyvia and Tommy and Troy and Brandon came too.  We had a great time.  Chloee desired to get Lyvia a "pink doll" for her birthday and so it was done.  They had a great time playing around the house and we even snuck in a few pictures in between rain storms.  I love catching up with my family.  It was great fun.
     We also had a niece get married on Saturday.  This wedding was beautiful, and it turned out being a total blast. Savhana and Ammon Seely are now hitched, and it was a gorgeous and rainy night for them.  They had hired Steve Gifford (my favorite Bundy Reunion Deejay) to come and we had a great dance thanks to him.  The kids ran back and forth on hay bales (which I explained to Jazz wasn't exactly lady-like in a dress) and we had an almost steeling of the bride by Arden and Wyatt.  I didn't care that I was in a stuffy church dress, I raged around the dance for quite awhile.  It reminded my of my high school and college days.  I definitely had friends that raged with me at dances.  I love Ryan's family...they know how to have a good time for sure.  I also loved the fact that they had an ice cream maker with toppings.  Chloee and I went back for several rounds of ice cream with little colored flower sprinkles.  Man, you just cannot beat how fresh it was over there, and the dancing, and ice cream....I will never forget the evening, I am sure. The drive home was as beautiful as it gets.  It rained and we got to watch a gorgeous thunder and lightening display.  I loved every minute of it because the kids had settled down, and most of them fell asleep.  Oak just happened to overhear Ryan mention a deer that he saw.  We were on the look out, and Oak wondered why it would really matter if we hit a deer.  We explained that it kills an animal for no good reason, and it does major damage to the car.  Everyone in the car could get hurt too.  He scoffed at that idea,  he explained that deer cannot hurt cars, only elephants.  He was going to be on the lookout for elephants instead because he figured that an elephant would just come up and stomp on the van.  I took a risk, and promised him that he could go to sleep because I could guarantee that we were not going to encounter any elephants on the way home.
     Sunday morning Ryan got up at the crack of dawn because Elder D. Todd Christofferson was coming to our stake to speak.  He roused a sleepy Sags and Rooshkie and they went at 7:30am to save us a good seat.  In fact Ryan mentioned that he wanted the front row, and my man always delivers on his word.  I didn't really think much about it, but I was way intimidated on the front row.  D.  Todd was right there watching my kids the whole time.  I must say that we did better than usual.  Considering the fact that Sags and Rooshkie sat there for like 5 hrs, we did great.  Because of the fun and rainy dance, Oak broke out into the Macarena once, which I quickly stifled, and Moroni woke up and began passing out pieces to his Spiderman puzzle to various members of the congregation.  Other than that I didn't have to shoot too many dirty looks at the kids.  He spoke on continuing with those little things that build our testimonies and explained the importance of studying the gospel with our families.  He blessed the congregation that we would always have sufficient for our needs in caring for our families, which was a great thing to hear from an Apostle of the Lord.  I so often worry about the future, and the calamities foretold.  I no longer fear that after his blessing.  The thing that I loved, was he desired to shake all of the young people's hands.  He hung out for an extra hour, as each child was brought up to him.  It reminded me of the account in 3rd Nephi about the Saviour.  Because we were on the front row, Jams and Mo man were the first to shake his hand.  I will never forget our beautiful Sunday meeting with an apostle.  After the meeting we walked home in the rain.  I was really impressed with my little Jerusha.  It was kind of a cold rain, and I looked back to see if they were keeping up.  I had asked Rooshkie to hold Chlo's hand.  She took off her jacket, and bundled Chlo up in it.  Yep, I have good kids.  I am also sure that being around an apostle had a lot to do with that too.  The mantle of that calling was definitely felt by all of us.
     Ryan and I needed a nap, but Rooshkie kept bugging us because she wanted to make a batch of brownies.  I am trying to encourage all of my girls to be good cooks and so I told her to go ahead and make some.  Of course she wanted me to get up and help, but hey, the bed was way too fluffy and soft.  Finally she came in and complained that the stuff was way too thick and wouldn't stir.  Ryan finally got up to see what the problem was, and there definitely was a problem.  I came in and tasted it and it was really bitter.  We finally determined that she had added four cups of cocoa instead of four tablespoons.  This doesn't work so well for brownies, but luckily Ryan fixed it.  Little Beekster will figure it out and be a good cook someday for sure.
     Ryan and I went home teaching again, and while he was visiting with a family I slipped out to meet my gals at the track.  It was a great walk because of all of the rain.  Ryan and Mo showed up so that Mo could play football again.  According to Ryan, he could see and hear them throwing passes while he was only half-way up the street and began bouncing and saying "ball" all excited.  He was included in the passing and plays again, and Mo is on his way to becoming a real football hero.  At least Mo thinks that he is pretty hot stuff for sure.

 

     This week definitely calls for a mid-week post.  It has been a great and interesting couple of days to say the least.  I am grateful that my life is so full of people to love and laugh with.
     Right after I posted on Sunday, Ryan wanted to go and check on one of the families that he home teaches.  The mother of this family is very thoughtful, and has been baking us loaves of bread quite a bit lately.  We grabbed a bucket of honey, took a naked (except for diaper) Mo, and headed down the street.  We had a good visit, and then I realized that it was time for me to meet a couple of friends at the track to go walking.  A few friends of mine, and I try to get together on Sunday evenings and catch up.  Anyhow, Ryan, Mo, and I went over to the track and it was getting dark already.  I realized that we need to adjust our walking schedule because the days are definitely getting shorter.  A cozy thought to me, but a depressing one to Ryan.  He really hates the long winter evenings.  I, on the hand, love them, but that is probably because I don't have to work outside in the winter like he does.  Anyhow, none of my ladies showed up, and so we sat down on the grass to talk. 
     Mo noticed right away that there were a group of six or seven young men playing football.  They were running different passes, and practicing their hand-off's, and perfecting their long aims.  Anyhow, Mo was just dying to get into their game somehow.  He kept urging Ryan and I to go and get involved in their game.  Finally, I just put him down, and told him that if he wanted to play football to go right ahead.  I felt way too sheepish, to jump into the teenager boy game.  I laughed as he toddled over, in his sagging diaper.  He picked up a football, and walked over to one of the young men.  Luckily, these boys worked him right into their game.  They were letting him throw passes (short ones, mind you, but wow...Mo can throw pretty good for a one-year old)  they were cheering him on, and giving him knuckles.  I even heard one of them tell him, that he threw better than Kenny.  Moroni just loved it.  After awhile, I knew they couldn't really get much practice in with the Mo-ster and so I sent Ryan to go fetch him.  This of course, spurred on a great discussion with the youth about the great game of football.  Ryan loved playing football for Virgin Valley.  Anyhow, I will never forget Moroni's first football game in his soggy diaper.  It was great.  Thank goodness those young men were patient with the Mo.
     Monday was labor day.  It was great, because we were still trying to determine whether or not Sags and Rooshkie's steers are going to be ready for the show.  Ryan had some time, thanks to the holiday, to work with the girls.  Anyhow, Leo drug Jerusha and Ryan both across the dirt, and I think Ryan had pretty much given up at that point.  He still decided to clean them both up in the off chance that some miracle occurred.  He got on a horse, and tied the two steers to the horse and led them up to the house because he needed a hose to clean them up.  He brought the steel chute up to contain one while they were being cleaned, and then he tied the other one, to the only stable thing around, the neighbors tree.  I knew that this was probably going to raise a few eyebrows.  Luckily our neighbors aren't really picky about their yard.  This has been great, because my kids have romped around their property a lot.  Anyhow, the steers have gotten big, and powerful, and Diablo is still just mean.  He will let Sage brush him, and pet him, but no one else.  She sprayed him down, but he kept kicking at anyone who walked behind him.  Jerusha's is bad this way too.  In fact, Ryan not only got drug across the dirt, he got kicked really hard by Leo.  It tore through his pants and everything.  Carol suggested that we tie an empty milk jug to their tails.  They usually get sick of banging into the milk jug when they kick, and so they quit after awhile, and hey, it worked.  What I didn't realize at the time, was that Ryan had also turned his horse loose in the neighbors backyard.  I was just starting to say something when my neighbor pulled up.  I can only imagine what he was thinking.  He has a steer tied up to his tree, with a milk jug banging on his tail, and another one being sprayed off.  I guess he jumped pretty high when he looked out his back window and saw the horse too.  Luckily Ryan went and talked to him about that time, and hey, he was cool with the whole thing.  Whew, most people probably would have had a come apart.  Ryan and I agree...we need to get out of the city.  I am sure the Nesmith's will never forget the Bundy's.  We certainly will never forget them.  I am sure they will never experience anyone quite like us.
     On Monday night, we were all sleeping soundly when we got a phone call from Barry.  Mindi was in labor and he wanted to get her checked at the Cedar hospital before they headed down to St. George.  Ryan and I could certainly understand the wisdom in this, as our little Sage was born on the way to the hospital.  Anyhow, Brandon, Kade, and Kyler were with them, and needed somewhere to sleep.  I got up excitedly and began changing sheets on beds.  I got so excited about the arrival of the new baby that I just couldn't sleep.  I was so glad that they had to involve us in the whole process.  Anyhow, I got the boys settled and then I just couldn't sleep.  I had so much nervous and excited energy that I was wishing I could take on Mindi's pains for awhile.  Just for a small while, mind you.  Anyhow, I finally had to put in a hard-core Bob Harper work-out (complete with scary music) just to let off some nervous energy.  At one the boys came wandering in.  Barry had called Brandon, and explained that they did have time to make it to St. George, which is where their Dr. was.  I told the boys to go back to bed.  I had tons of energy and would be happy to drop the car off and run back home for that matter.  Brandon would not hear of it.  You could tell that all three of them were dying to meet their new little sister.
     We were so excited the next morning to hear of her little arrival.  Ryan had work going in St. George, and he wanted to see her too, so it gave us a good excuse to go and see her.  Actually Barry invited us to come, which excited me because hey, there are a lot of us.  Because of the invite, we headed down, right after Jams orthodontist appointment.  She is absolutely perfect.  She carried such an awesome spirit with her too, everyone could just feel it.  We are so blessed to have a new baby in the family.  She is so tiny and beautiful.  I am glad we all got to meet her and hold her.  What a happy day!
     After seeing the baby we determined that we could still make it to the ward pie social.  We grabbed a Costco pie, and the kids and I went to the social.  All was fine and good until it was time to go.  Oak had been playing hide-n-seek with another boy, and no one could find him.  I panicked.  He had been hiding for awhile at this point, and I hadn't realized that they had quit their game because they determined that he had definitely won.  I finally had the whole ward looking for him.  This was an outdoor event, and unfortunately, the boys had set no boundaries for their game.  Luckily after dark he came out.  Wow...he got a lecture about giving up his good hiding place after awhile.  I figure after twenty minutes you can count yourself the winner if no one has found you for sure.  He had hid for a long time.  I was so glad to have him around for scripture study last night.  I have watched way too many true crime shows where people disappear and never return.  All of that definitely came back to haunt me as I searched for him last night.  I thought about how annoyed I had been with him most of the ride home.  Oak really knows how to make some horrible noises.  He makes them really loud too, and usually Ryan is on the phone trying to do business.  It will be quiet and then he will crow like a rooster, or screech a horrible screech that is as loud and ear piercing as possible.  I had gotten after him quite a bit.  I regretted it for sure as we searched for him in the dark.  I definitely decided that this is the year that I will work on being patient.  Our stake leaders are urging us to develop Christ-like attributes, and I chose patience.  Anyhow, I learned that I have a long way to go.  It was good to get my little dude found, and I am grateful that his noises are filling my ears today!

     Anyhow, today Oak is begging him to take him to a circus...any circus so that he can ride an elephant.  Yep, I am glad to have my Oak!

     What is up with the Bundy's?  I believe this is a question that many people around ask themselves.  And, I have given it a lot of thought, and I can honestly say that I don't know.  I just have to laugh because I am sure that no one can figure us out.  I cannot either, so its ok.
     We had another long and busy week. The weather has been rainy and beautiful.  I am very happy to say that the children were very quick to change their behavior, and so was I.  They went back to school, which is way more comfortable for all of us.  I have a new admiration for those people and parents who home-school.  If I ever do feel like I need to home-school the children, I will have to be instructed by people who educate their children themselves.  After only a few days, I felt like a mean drill sergeant.  I had a really hard time keeping the kids on task.  Anyhow, the kids aren't far behind, and I love our school for working with us.  Jazzerz got sick this week, Jams thought she had broken an arm, Jerusha got eaten alive by mosquiteers.  Ryan had trouble on the job.  Everyone was a little bit beaten up this week.  The stress about got to me, but we made it through.  Jamie's arm is now fine too btw.
     Jazz, Rooshkie and Jams started a dance class this week, and we are still trying to whip our show steers into shape.  We also celebrated Jamie's fourteenth birthday yesterday.  Many mishaps took place during the bustle of activity.  I will do my best to recall all of it.
     At some point, the school received a new timpani set for their percussionists.  Apparently Jamie walked into the music room, and didn't notice the new instruments, but did notice the enormous box.  She got all excited and asked if she could have it.  Mrs Hughes, who teaches music, explained that she already had plans for the box.  She has four kids of her own.  Anyhow Jams hounded some more, but to no avail.  Sags came into the same room a few hours later, noticed the box, and began begging for it.  Mrs Hughes again calmly explained that she was going to give the box to her kids.  I think she was really wondering what was up, when Rooshkie came into Orchestra a few hours later and immediately began begging for the box.  I guess both music teachers looked at each other and asked, what is up with these Bundy's?  Ok...so Ryan often gets new tool sets, and the boxes are drug around this place for weeks.  The kids, sleep in them, roll around in them, drag each other through home-made spook alleys in them.  They make puppet stages, busses, and hide-outs in them.  Boxes are of much value in this house I guess. 
     Another eyebrow raising experience happened this week too.  I am the first to admit that I am completely incapable of backing a trailer up.  I have actually had quite a bit experience dragging a trailer since I have been married, but I have told Ryan, I can drag a trailer as long as I can drive straight forward, and never have to back-up.  I cannot back track at all.  Anyhow, Ryan is under a lot of pressure at work, and is spending all waking hours on the job.  The cattle ran out of water this week, which made me need to back a small water trailer up to their pens.  I knew I couldn't do it.  I told Ryan, it was simply beyond me to do it right.  He explained that I had to do it, and that it would be good for me to finally learn how.  I hear men all the time say that you just have to think opposite.  Sounds simple, but I cannot do it.  I really struggle with a small trailer too.  Anyhow, we had to hurry and take care of the animals before school on Fridee.  I knew that the cattle needed water.  I drug the trailer down the street, and threw tread on a tire on the way.  Great, that meant that I had to somehow get the trailer in place, and unhook, or I couldn't go anywhere.  Anyway, I just couldn't get the job done.  There is tons of clunky traffic on that road, and I was constantly in the way as I pulled forward and backed up again and again, again and again.  The kids were getting very antsy to get to school, but I could not drive them with the trailer and its bad tire.  Anyhow, I ended up backing the trailer into a ravine and it tipped over sideways while still hooked to the van.  We had to walk home and I had to call a neighbor to beg him to take the kids to school.  They were already behind.  Anyhow, Ryan will believe me the next time I say that I just cannot do it.  I just cannot figure it out.  Poor Ryan had to come home after a million hours of work and get the van.  He concluded that a tractor will be needed to retrieve the tipped over trailer, but guess what?  We have tractors!  We have tractors in abundance and so it will be no big deal.  He assured me of this.  Whew, thank goodness he is patient with me.
     Jamie's birthday was great.  She was determined to decorate her cake with fondant.  What????  I am really into birthday cakes and all, but they usually taste good, and look not-so-good.  I decided to humor her on this request.  I made her cake, and found a recipe for fondant on the internet.  After a bag of  'shmallows, and a whole bag of sugar, and about a can of non-stick cooking spray, I was able to roll the junk out.  She decorated it up, and it looked awesome.  I must admit that I was impressed with her artistic abilities.  She definitely doesn't get that from me.  Ryan and I took her to Sonny Boys barbecue, and it was outrageously good. I mean it too, I think the employees were taken aback at how much we complimented them on their barbecue.  Ryan even went and asked them for all of the fat that they were trimming off of their meat and had a hey-day. The meat right next to the fat, tastes the best.  We took her clothes shopping, and she had a great time.  She and her friend Leia went to Monsters University last night, and my parents also took her shoe shopping.  She picked out five inch spiked heels that made me raise my eyebrows, but hey,  she has been wanting to be taller.  These definitely do the trick.
     We went to Shrsh today, and I loved Shrsh.  We got off on the wrong foot with Chlo though.  We normally take shoes for Chlo, so that we can carry them and appear somewhat civilized.  She might wear them into the building, and into primary if we are really lucky.  What usually happens is I just carry them and she refuses to wear them.  Well, today in my efforts to be on time, I did not realize that we did not have her shoes.  When we arrived I noticed, but wasn't too worried about it because she doesn't wear them anyway.  Well, when she asked about them, and I did not have them she cried and cried about it.  I couldn't figure it out.  She bawled sadly until she curled up on Ryan's lap, and fell asleep.  Oak slipped out of sacrament meeting and came back from the library with two Book of Mormons.  He forgot them when he left for primary.  He was coming up with all kinds of urgent reasons to leave the meeting.  I told him no over and over.  He finally claimed that he had to go to the bathroom, and came back prepared to learn with two Book of Mormons. 
     It is also the first of the month, and so I was paying tithing.  This inspired Jazz, Oak, and Sags to pay theirs as well.  Chlo was feeling left out, and so she came in and asked Ryan, in a nice and quite high voice, if he would give her some money.  He gave her a penny and she paid her cute tithing with it.  Your penny will help out tons Chlo! 
     Oak, and Mo have an interesting game that they have been playing.  They either snort, and beller and crawl around like mean bulls, or they roar around, and throw themselves on the floor.  Mo literally, no hands just belly flops on the floor.  I keep thinking that it has got to hurt, but he doesn't seem to be bothered at all.  He has also been getting into the bullets and batteries again and I am finding them all over the house.  Another new thing, is he is tossing things into the toilet when he thinks no one is watching.  This week, I have fished batteries, baby powder, and other various objects out of the toilet.  I am grateful that I use bleach tablets.  Anyhow I missed a metal sauce cup, and it got flushed, and lodged backwards into the opening of the pipe.  I knew Ryan didn't need work to do at home, and so I tried and tried to get it out with no success.  Ryan ended up using a drill, and drilling a screw into the metal cup.  He then got pliers and pulled it out.  Yep, that was something that I wouldn't have thought to do. 
     Moroni has also gotten extremely cling-y lately.  I cannot even shower without him wailing at the door.  I decided one day to see if a small bag of chips would distract him long enough for me to shower.  I opened the bag, and gave it to him and slipped into the bathroom.  Sure enough, not five minutes had passed when I hear him wailing at the door.  I was trying to hurry but I also figured he wasn't being hurt in any way.  Before long, I see a little funyun slip under the door.  I laughed and took it.  He slid another one under for me.  I guess this was Mo's way of making sure that I was still alive behind the door.  It was great fun getting dressed and sharing funyuns with my Mo.
     The livestock show is this week.  I can honestly say that we are not ready in any way, shape, or form.  Thankfully Carol, has way more experience in this area than Ryan or I do.  She has been great help.  Anyway, Stetsy and Clance came over on Thursday and helped Sage and Jerusha work their steers over good. Ryan worked with them for quite awhile yesterday. None of us are sure that these steers are going to show.  We have learned a ton if nothing else.  Carol has given us a few tricks to try that have worked well too.  We will see how it all goes.  The General that Ryan is working with expects him on the job every day and we are not sure if Ryan is going to be able to get away to help them.  If not, we will see if we can find buyers anyway.  I personally just want to eat them.  They look delish.