Meet Brittney

This is my darling niece Brittney who lives with us. She has been going to Paul Mitchell Hair school and is now doing the skin program. She loves it and is so excited to do full body waxes! Just kidding. She said she is loving all that she is learning though. I just wanted to introduce her. It's been so fun having her here with us. It's especially fun for me to have a girlfriend to talk to all the time. She will most likely stay with us atleast until she finishes school! She is my sister's oldest daughter. She recently started dating a charming young prince! He is seriously G.Q. I'll keep everyone posted on Mr. Wonderful as the relationship evolves!

Kaden started Jr. High on Monday, August 27th. He is now a Cresent View Viking! He was excited to start but thought it was pretty rough catching the bus at 7:00 a.m. That is definitely a much earlier schedule than we've had in the past. He does look a little sleepy in these photos. Imagine what that time of morning is going to look and feel like in Novemeber and December! Good Luck Kado!

Kaden's a Deacon!

Sunday was a really special day for us! Kaden received the Priesthood and was ordained a deacon. It was so great! We had my mom and her husband Ross here and also Chad's dad Dick here. Kaden was so lucky to have both Grandpa's in the circle. I was teary of course!! It was just amazing to me that he is already 12. Wasn't it just yesterday he was born. We had a nice dinner after church and then went to Kaden's first Court of Honor for boys scouts where he received 13 merit badges! It was a great day!!!

The Harvest

Chad was so excited to move to Utah for one reason...well, maybe two. But first and foremost was his opportunity to plant a garden that would really grow! He was so excited in fact that he decided to start building the raised garden about the second week we moved in. (Don't worry about all those boxes that need to be unpacked Honey...) So, he was busy, busy, busy..building, planting etc. for a few weekends. I was giving him a hard time that he was doing that and not helping me unpack. Needless to say, I have completely taken those words back as I'm biting into a fresh home-grown tomatoe! They are the best. I am a little tired of the zuchinni-we have had it growing out of our ears! Chad's pretty proud of his little garden-I'm thankful for his persistence and hard work! We've even enjoyed strawberries too! We have a watermelon and cantaloupe growing fast. It's been great.

Leapin' Lizards

Elleris started soccer. This was her first game. They did really well but unfortunately they lost. She was playing so much better this year than she did 2 years ago. I guess the age difference probably helps. She was really a go getter.
We're looking forward to a great season! Their team name is "The Lizards"...I suggested they be the "Highlighters". Those jerseys look the same exact color as a yellow highlighter!

Piggies

So apparently Porter thinks his feet are the greatest! He snuck in and took my camera (he knows I wouldn't give it to him if he asked to use it) Little does he know that I was just getting ready to upload a bunch of pictures off my camera. I started to upload them and saw these two with several (~10) more photos of his face, his bedspread, his blinds, his laundry basket. It really was hysterical! I just had to post these two though because I got such a kick out of it when I saw them.

Porter & Maggie

This was a funny day! Porter and his friend Maggie decided to make a house. Little did I know what was going on. Porter then called me from upstairs and said that Maggie was scared and couldn't get down. I asked him where she was and he just replied "Up High"...So of course I ran upstairs to find this-
Porter and Maggie had taken all my towels, linens and blankets out of my linen closet and made "bunk beds"....I had to laugh even though I was sort of bugged when I first arrived on the scene. I quickly ran down to get my camera. "What a perfect blog" I thought! I'm grateful that I'm blogging, it's helping me find joy and laughter in Porter and his little messes!
I thought they were pretty creative. They said they were babies- hence Porter in the fetal position in the one photo. He is a nut for sure!

Look Who's 12 !!!

Happy, Happy Birthday Kaden Dear!

I can't believe my boy is 12 today. That is crazy. I'm so excited to have a tween! He is so fun to hang out with and has converted to that stage where he'd rather hang out with the adults and listen in on their conversation verses hanging out with other kids. He's starting Jr. High on Monday. I know, it's mixed emotions for me as the Mom... Here are a few photos from today. He also had to go to 7th grade orientation today. He is so HANDSOME! By the way, he's a great babysitter too! I've waited 12 years to have a built in babysitter. Tee Hee

He is a great kid!

I sure love you Kaden. Happy 12th Birthday!!!

The cool way to wear your laces when you're 12!

So Long Summer!

Today is Garrett and Ellerie's first day back to school. Ellerie is 7 and starting 2nd grade. Garrett is 10 and starting 5th grade. Ellerie was so anxious to get started that she keep asking me all weekend how many more hours she had until Monday. Garrett on the other hand wan't excited at all. He always gets really nervous at the beginning of a new year. I dropped them both off at school today and while Ellerie was skipping along and thrilled to be there Garrett turned around to wave bye and he was biting his lip (a common occurance when he's nervous). It was sort of sad but I know once he gets to know his new teacher, he'll love it. Kaden doesn't start for another week and Porter starts preschool until September 6th. We'll post Kaden and Porter later!

Go Hawks!

Football season is in full swing at the Morris house. Our lives revolve around football practice all the month of August. Practice 5 nights a week for 2 hours each night! This is the first year that Kaden and Garrett won't be playing on the same team and Ellerie decided to play soccer this fall. Our Saturdays are going to be CRAAAZY! But we love having our kids in sports and they all love it too. Here in Utah we are learning quickly that we have to be devote Alta Hawk fans. The whole little league divisions here are by city. We live in Alta High School boundaries which makes us the Alta Hawks. The colors are black, red & white! Expect to see some great photos of the boys and Ellie while they're struttin' their stuff!

Sick, Sick, Sick

So last week on Thursday, I started having aches in my knees. I just thought it was from my running the past few weeks but then on Friday, it hit full force. My knees and legs just ached! It was awful. I went to bed thinking I could sleep it off. It just progressively got worse. Fever 103, chills, aches, the whole 9 yards. I just assumed it was the flu. By Sunday evening I couldn't take it any longer. I had just been given a blessing and then Chad took me to urgent care. Come to find out I had a kidney infection. What in the world? Who would have thought. Needless to say, it has pretty much kicked my rear and I am still weary! But then to top it off, Porter started running a fever, throwing up etc. yesterday morning. He slept most of the day. Then by 6 p.m. Ellerie was throwing up! So we have a house full of sicko's! Hopefully the kids will be short lived. We're really hoping Kaden and Garrett don't get it because they have just started football practice this week. We're hoping to be up and running (literally) soon!

San Clemente 2007

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

Pioneer Day- 24th of July

We spent Pioneer Day at "This is the Place-Heritage Park"
It's a step back in time restored Pioneer village. It's so fun for the kids with all the hands on activities and games. They loved the stilts but had a very hard time with doing them. Porter's favorite part was riding the pony. He was thrilled! Kaden and Garrett got a kick out of going to Pioneer school where Garrett misbehaved and was sent to put his nose in the corner and hold books behind his back. Ellerie and Porter enjoyed doing Pioneer laundry with the wash tub and all. There were tons of things to see and do. We bought a season pass so that we can go back again for more fun! It was the perfect way to spend Pioneer Day and to teach my kids about it and why we celebrate it. This is really the first year they've heard of it being a holiday...well in Utah it is!

Start Spreadin' the News!!

Back in May Chad and I took our first trip to New York on a "business trip" for Adaptive. Luckily for us, Kris and Missy Wilde also came. It was a blast! Missy and I had so much fun going to Canal street shopping and getting new purses. It was an experience that's for sure. We also saw Lion King which was awesome! We toured the Empire State Bldg. and went to the memorial site where the twin towers were. That was a very emotional and spiritual experience. The memorial was great and Missy and I sat in the building and bawled for about an hour as we read experiences of people that survived and their stories. Here are a few of our funny moments in New York! We'd love to go back!