Fall Photos

We took our family photos a little earlier this year so that we could have the beautiful color of the fall leaves. Here are some of the ones I haven't posted yet.

Now I just need to get them printed and framed for my walls! My sister did an AMAZING job, as usual, I'm so grateful for her talents!

Halloween

He was not interested in taking the professional photos in his Halloween outfit, which is OK he adorable crying :) Ruark and Grandma Michelle (not sure what her new last name will be!)

Ruark and Grandpa Gary and Grandma Lennia

Grandma & Grandpa Machen and Ruark

Grandma & Grandpa Andrews& Ruarksw

The year has flew by, Halloween has come and gone . Thank goodness I took lots of photos in the meantime so that I can remember what has been happening!

Halloween was great, Ruark was a cowboy, we were all cowboys. He LOVED running from house to house trick-or-treating, we had such a great time. Every day I realize how much of a little boy he is and just how fast he is growing up. We love our little cowboy and are so glad for his sweet spirit.

We were lucky enough to visit some of his Grandma's and Grandpa's on Halloween. What a wonderful treat to listen to their stories and enjoy their company.

School time already?

This last week we found out a school we really want Ruark to go to started taking applications, so we signed him up for 2014. It made me sad even filling out the paperwork, I can't imagine that day will ever come but I know how fast the past 5 years have flown by and I'm sure life's only going to become more hectic from here on out.

Nursery is going great on Sundays. Ruark loves all his friends at church. He runs as fast as he can to his nursery class and patiently waits at the table with his hands folded anxious for everyone else to arrive (kind of like this picture). I can only imagine how much he will love school. I'm going to be a big boob about him leaving, I already am, but I am so excited to see where this boy will go in his life! In his baby blessing he was told the name he was given will be known throughout the world, I always wonder what this means, but the older he gets the more I understand. I feel so lucky everyday to be his mom!

Buddies

The other night our friends came over and Ruark and his little buddy Memphis serenaded us with a few songs on our piano, they had so much fun! They had a great time wearing themselves out. I can't believe how much Ruark is looking like a little boy, I still can't get over this thought in my head "where did my baby go?".

Chase

So I posted the night Chase got into the motorcycle accident, I haven't said much since then. Well he's doing great, healing very quickly and things couldn't be going better. Luckily for us he wasn't out of work for too long, but I thought you might like to see the damage! It could have been so much worse. This picture was taken a few days after the accident between bandages.

Crafts

Let's face it, we all knew I was dying for a girl when I got pregnant with Ruark. Don't get me wrong I LOVE Ruark, but I was not in love with the idea of having a boy and giving up all those beautiful ruffles and bows. I took a girls outfit to the hospital just in case and kept receipts for boy items so it would make returns easy. Then I had Ruark and fell in love, and I have loved every moment...

However I am still holding out hope the next baby will be a girl. I have bought lots of girls outfits and have planned out most of the nursery and home changes when the time comes. I am praying that we are able to get pregnant with a healthy beautiful baby the next few months and I always add a little "if it can be a girl too, that would be great" in my nightly prayers...I don't care if it's right that I ask, I just do.

I am starting to prepare myself that I very well may have a boy next which would mean it will be at least another 3 years before we get another chance to try again. So I have decided to put away all the little girl crafts and focus on all the boy stuff I have lying around, for now. This is a very new decision so we will see if it lasts.

Last year for Ruark's birthday I bought fabric for blankets, I make blankets every winter. Last year I bought enough fabric for 3 baby blankets, I finished one but the other two were stuffed in the closet to await when I had more free time...

Last week at conference I finally had a chance to pull out the blankets and get to work. I finished one of them, and plan to finish the next one (It's a big project) by this weekend. I am so excited to finally have things being accomplished. Ruark LOVES his new blanket, I kept finding him carrying it around with him while it was still stuck with pins. He cuddled with it on my lap while I did the binding, and tonight he's happy as can be that it's finally done.

Horseback Ride

So most of you know, I'm dying to get pregnant! So I am in a mode where I am trying to do all the things I can't do once a baby is on it's way. This includes riding roller coaster, working ridiculously long hours, horseback riding, and eating ice cream for dinner.

It has been over 6 YEARS since I took a horse ride with my family. Mainly because Chase is usually gone, and I'm so busy we haven't had a chance to go. So Chase and I sent Ruark over to my mom's house for the day and took a trip with my dad and step mom up into Harriman Park. The leaves were just turning and luckily for us the elk were bugleing. Chase had too much fun bugleing back and forth.

Me and my daddy

We found a beautiful spring to rest at on our way

Luckily for us we were able to sneak right up on them and watch a whole heard from just a few feet away. In all my years of riding into Harriman Park I don't think I've ever been so close. This however has woken a sleeping giant in my husband. He now LOVES his cowboy hat, and is dying to get into hunter's safety so he can go hunting with my family next year. I love his enthusiasm. I'll admit I was a little nervous for him, he hadn't had a lot of experience riding and I really didn't want him to be made fun of for the next few years as my family tends to do. However, he suprised us all when he looked like a regular cowboy running up and down the valley and was as comfortable as I was in a saddle.

After 6 years I still find myself amazed by his enthusiasm for life and find myself falling even more in love with him. I am so thankful for this beautiful world we live in and I am so thankful for my wonderful family and frieds for all the blessing they bring into our lives.

As for Ruark he of course had a wonderful time with his "andma" and spent the day playing with his cousins playing games and ended the night watching movies and eating root bear floats. He was not ready to come home but after a whole day away from him I couldn't hold and kiss him enough when I got him back in my arms.

Conference Weekend

This weekend is General Conference! Is there anything better than church coming to you twice a year?! I love staying in my pajamas and listening to the uplifting words of the Apostles! Not to mention all the projects I plan to work on this weekend. With all the projects coming up I am really glad to have found these sites to be able to print out "Conference Packets" for Ruark to hopefully keep him busy during the sessions! I thought I'd share these with you in hopes that it will keep your children busy too!


Nursery Packet

Junior Primary Packet

Senior Primary Packet

Youth Packet

I hate motorcycles...

Did I ever tell you I hate motorcycles? I think they're dangerous, dumb and frankly 90% of my clients own one...Chase got a motorcycle from his dad a few months ago. He's been so excited but I've been a little apprehensive. We kept meaning to buy his a helmet, but he hardly ever rides it because we've had such bad weather so I didn't think too much of it when he went to leave tonight...the still small voice told me to remind him to wear a jacket and that he really shouldn't be driving it without a helmet for the umpteenth time. I however wanted to be the sweet cool wife and sent him on his way with nothing more than a kiss.

Half an hour later I received a call from Chase saying he'd been in an accident. His front tire blew out on a side street from 17th he lost control when he let off the gas and before he knew what was happening he was on his side sliding on the asphalt at 25mph. It happened right in front of a guy's house who was just pulling in he ran out and bandaged Chase up.

We took him to the Community Care. Luckily he doesn't have a concussion but he's pretty banged up and walked out with 9 stitches and a lot of road rash. Poor guy not only had to hear the lecture about wearing a helmet who knows how many times but I think just to make it sink in they bandaged him up with pink and purple, just to bruise his ego a little more...I think he looks a little like a roller derby girl :) We feel so blessed tonight, and we are so thankful for our guardian angels who watched over him. I sure don't know what I'd do without this man of mine!

Craft Time!

A friend of ours was flying all the way to England to visit her parents, 7 months pregnant with an 19 month old and all alone!! So I send her something to help keep her daughter busy, a preview of the Christmas gift going out to my nieces this year :) This was a quick version because I only had about a day to work on it.

I made this clutch out of a Huggies diaper wipe case and a little batting .

The dolls are removable, and are all fabric. The doll clothes have a fleece backing so they stick to the dolls. I'm really excited how it turned out. One thing I remembered while working on this project, hot glue and I don't mix! I had burns all over my hands, so I think I'll try a few alterations to see if I can make it a little easier on myself!

Time Out

We have started a new thing in our house, TIME OUT!! We used to send Ruark to his room but felt that was a bad direction to go because whenever he went in there he felt he was being punished. We think it's the cutest thing in the world when Ruark stands with his nose against the wall, pouting.

No baby was punished for the sole purpose of taking this picture...this is just a reenactment. On a side note, he does not enjoy time out this much, he just loves taking pictures!

Our Next Adventure...

For the past few months Chase and I have felt lost. Construction is bad. There's no work and any work that's out there you can hardly make a profit because everyone is undercutting each other.

Bonds are our main source of income. I am so thankful for the opportunity I've had to work from home and be able to support our family. But the time has come for our next adventure. I'm sick of bonds, I sick of the dirty jails and the wife beaters and the drug addicts who think I'm their friend. I'm sick of the knowledge I have of the justice system and how corrupt everyone is. I've planned on taking over this business for the past 4 years, and now I am running away from it.

So now what? We have so many opportunities that are coming our way. We have quite a few businesses that we are deciding between, right now we are praying about the best direction. A few months ago I called my mom and said I don't think we're going to be doing bonds much longer, she said she has been having the same feeling. She wants out too, no one wants to stay in the business. We are all feeling a pull in an another direction, and I CANNOT WAIT to see where this leads!!! So for now, I'm still doing bonds and Chase is still doing construction but hopefully by next week we'll have the answer we are looking for.

I'm just a baby!

Ruark will not just go in his room to sleep, it's been that way as long as I can remember. We always hold him and either sing or read or watch a movie until he goes to sleep. So the other night, it was LATE we're talking 11:30 late! He was running around like a "wild bill barnio" as Grandma would say. So finally we decide we're going to put him in his room, close the door and let him cry until he's tired enough he'll go to sleep. So we put him in his room say good night and close the door.

The wailing and screaming and door pounding starts. Then from the other side of the door in a very angry clear voice we hear "it's not fair, I'm just a baby"! Chase and I started laughing and before you know it we brought Ruark out and put him back in bed with us. We sure love our Ruark, and we are so happy he's growing into such a wonderful little boy!

Summertime!

Summertime...and the livin' is...easy?

Easy is not the way I would describe life right now. Life with a 19 month toddler boy sure brings challenges. I spend most days watching him play on the jungle gym, or jumping on the trampoline. We bought him an electric police car that he finally figured out how to drive, and thinks it's pretty cool taking off around the neighborhood.We try to make sure to schedule play dates with his friends...he's still learning how to share :)

Summer has been VERY different around this house! For starters, CHASE IS HOME! In our 6 years, this is our FIRST summer together! It has been such a great experience having our family together! I don't know how we ever spent so much time apart!! It has been a big adjustment not having our summertime income, but we have been blessed to have work in our other companies and we are doing just fine.

We had a surprise birthday party for Chase last month! We all came down with the stomach flu just days before his birthday, so it was a great cover to act like I didn't have time to plan anything for his birthday. I asked Chase to run meet my mom to give her some paperwork, meanwhile all of our great friends showed up to help me transform our house into a birthday extravaganza. After the party we all headed over to play laser tag at Leo's place, which was a fantastic ending to the day. When we were heading home, Chase told me that it was the best birthday he'd ever had. My sweet husband never asks for anything, I'm so glad that I did a little more for him this year because he deserves it! I am so in love with this man of mine!

My birthday was just a few days ago, most of you know Chase and I are exactly one month apart. Usually I love having carrot cake so close together, but this year the idea made me sick! So I asked for a birthday trifle!! Oh it was TO DIE FOR!!! I think that will be my permanent wish! Chase kept saying he was sorry he didn't go all out for my birthday, but it was wonderful! Chase cleaned the house and took care of Ruark, meanwhile I was able to read my book, take a long bath and just enjoy our little family. I can't believe we're already 24! Time is going by so fast, I feel like I can hardly catch my breath!

Our Best Friends

A few weeks ago, our best friends moved to NY. We sure do miss them like crazy! Our lives have been so intertwined for the past 4 years, home doesn't quite feel like home without them. So here's some of my favorite moments caught on camera.

We found an old wig under the seat of the van :)This is my husband's SEXY face :) No wonder we only have one baby ;)

This is from Ruark's blessing, Dixie was only a few months along in this picture.

Ruark used to climb on Dixie's lap and touch her belly when she was pregnant, and Alex would kick Ruark, they were friends from the start. Halloween last year, Ruark would hang out around the crib and reach in to touch Alex :) it was so cute.

Thanksgiving at our house

Finally Alex got big enough, so we gave Ruark more of a chance to play with him. Ruark climbed in bed with Alex and they snuggled up for a few hours.

Halloween the year before Alex, I however am not dressed up because I was sooo pregnant and we spent all day moving into our new house.

Dixie: I'm sure you're going to kill me for putting this one up :)

Our little buddies, they sure are going to miss seeing each other all the time!

My Bestie :)

I just realized Alex isn't looking at the camera, oh well at least you and I look good Dixie! This was about 5 minutes before my tears started flowing and I had to say goodbye.

Ben & Chase the night before Ben headed out

We are so thankful we have such great friends! I know our friendship doesn't end here, we'll be friends forever! Love you guys, good luck in NY!

4:30

I'm 16 again. It's a beautiful summer night, my mom always has the heat on, she's always cold. I open my window like any other night thankful for the sweet relief the cool summer wind brings and climb in bed. I say my prayers and turn out the light...something doesn't feel right. The spirit tells me to get up and close the window, I try to ignore it, I'm hot and uncomfortable. The spirit tells me more urgently, get up close the window and lock it. Images of Elizabeth Smart flash before me eyes, and I get up and close my bedroom window and lock it. "Now lock your bedroom door", I listen and walk over and lock my door. Immediately I feel peace and collapse into bed, asleep within seconds.

Out of a dead sleep I awake panicked. My heart is racing, I feel the breath being squeezed out of my chest...I look at the time 4:30 am. "Go back to sleep!" I tell myself. But something is wrong and with every fiber of my being I feel it. "Listen," The spirit is almost shouting in my ear, "sit up and listen." My stomach is rolling at this point and I sit up to listen to the silence. 30 seconds pass when I hear it, the steps of a thief padding down the hallway.

My hallway. My breath catches, I know something is wrong. It's not my mom or anyone else I know, I can tell by the way they are carefully stepping. I can't breath. I feel sick. I listen as the steps come closer and closer to my door and hear the familiar *creak* just on the other side of the door. My door. I know they are there just on the other side of my door, my locked door. I start praying fervently, what do I do. Do I scream and wake everyone up? I know I should, but I feel like I'm going to pass out and I'm paralyzed with fear.

My door knob moves, I'm sick. "Please Heavenly Father, help me!" I scream inside, I feel so defenseless. No sound escapes my lips, I will myself to scream out. They try to move the door knob again more insistent this time, pushing on my door trying to force themselves in. Gripping my covers, holding on for dear life I start crying...begging for Heavenly Father's protection when I hear the voice of an angel.

My mother yells out "WHO'S THERE!" Feet pound down my hallway and the thief is running out the door. My mother's familiar steps are in close pursuit and I hear them both run out of the house and two cars pull from my driveway racing. The second car only moments after the first.

It is dawn before my mom is home again. She followed them with the lights off to her car but she didn't catch them. Like a snake they slinked into the darkness, eluding any chance for justice.

When my mom got home, I heard Chuck say from their room, "Is Nicole okay?" My mom pops the lock to the door, and as it flies open I know everything is okay. I crumble and I know my mom was watching over me, she was the angel I prayed for Heavenly Father to send. She tells me everything is fine, cradles me and tucks me in. It will be hours before any of us rest, years for me.

8 years. 8 years have passed, and I still find myself waking up at 4:30 am. Heart racing, listening for any sound that they are back. Even with Chase by my side, I shake in the dark. Many nights, I take Ruark from his bed and lock him in the room with Chase and I because sleep with come no other way. Other times, I know morning will start for me at 4:30 because somewhere out in the darkness I know that there is a thief who broke into my home and came looking for me. Someone tried to take me from my warm bed and my family. I know who that someone is...but it's not enough to know who he is. It's not enough to know where he is, locked in prison for so many heinous crimes I can't count.

I'm 16 again praying for strength and relief for hours of the night. I lay awake keeping watch over my most precious jewel Ruark. I am no longer scared for myself, that feeling was gone the moment I held him in my arms. When the sun dawns, I once again feel safe and give in to rest that has escaped me for so long. Hours go by like days when you feel the way I do at 4:30. My angel mother heard the shouting of the spirit, she was on the Lord's errand that night as in so many days and nights that followed. I am so thankful for my mother because I truly can say I don't know where I would be right now, without her.