4th of July pictures- Provo Days!

These are all in backwards order... so if you want, you can start from the bottom...... But, this is how it ended. We came home after watching fireworks at the BYU stadium and lit our own fireworks. It was a late night, but they had so much fun! Samantha looks tired.... right??

Rachelle and Danny Call and their kids- Whitney, Morgen and Presley.
Jaimen and Jacob playing swords.

Fireworks at BYU Stadium....

Cee Cee and Rick and their kids.. Kai, Madeline, and Shae Weight... (Jaimen was off playing with Jacob). My little Josh! He loved the fireworks.... but he got tired!

Me, Rachelle, and Cee Cee....

Earlier in the day we went to Provo days. I took all the kids but Josh- Cee Cee took him with her so the kids and I could go and have fun. Jacob is here with Jaimen and some of their friends that we saw there.

Jacob and Samantha got to go on this ride. The bungee jumping ride.... and they LOVED it!

Samantha got really high.. and was even doing summersaults in the air. Pretty cool!

The boys did marble painting. This was actually a really cool idea. I might do it sometime for something!

While the boys were marble painting, the girls were doing girlie things.... like painting their nails red, white and blue. I even did mine!

All the girls got their hair done by a salon that was doing hairstyles for free.... This is the back of Samantha's hair. It looked so pretty!

This was the front.....

We watched a reptile show.... here are the kids petting a HUGE snake.... can't remember what kind of a snake it was.... but it was pretty dang big!

Habitat for Humanity had a SAND TRUCK.... which the kids thouroughly enjoyed.

And that is it for our 4th of July pictures. It was a great day! Thanks to all who shared it with us!

Where to Start?

I am not sure really where to start. It has been such a long time since I have blogged and not sure if I should start with the most recent and try to go backwards or if I should go back to where I left of and catch up from oldest to newest news?? Hmmmm......

Well, Let me summarize... Since visiting Utah this summer... the kids and I have come back to stay more permanently for a while. Donny and I have seperated and this is just how it ended up. So- the pictures I will be posting will be all here in Provo. We are living in the basement unit of a good old friend of mine- Cee Cee Weight. She was one of my College roommates from Ricks College. It's actually a pretty large space. 2 very nice sized bedrooms and a bathroom, kitchen, Living room and Dining area. The boys share a room and Samantha and I share a room. Our room is big enough to fit my king size bed and her queen size bed and still have room. HOWEVER..... when we moved our stuff here from Washington, we found mold hiding behind a dresser in our bedroom and we had to almost tear out the whole room and the bathroom. It was really bad. We had it treated and now just waiting for it to get all put back together so we can have a room and bathroom again. In the meantime, all the kids are in one room, and I pull out my bed at night (which is against a wall during the day). It works, but I really can't wait to get a room again!

Anyway- We have been busy getting settled in. We have gone to Dr. appointments, gotten involved in some of the community sports and stuff, trying to get to know our way around here and get used to it. The kids really love being here, but miss everyone back home.

So- a little update on everyone..... Let us start with Samantha. She started school very early- end of August. Her teacher is Mrs. Hoover. I think she likes the idea of being in a school where most everyone is LDS. When they tested her skills.... she was at a 5th grade reading level. WOW! I knew she was a good reader, but I had no idea it was that good! I wasn't able to get her into soccer because we were late on the bandwagon and it was too full. So- we signed her up for gymnastics instead. She LOVES it! She goes 2x a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She is involved in her activity days at church which she does twice a month. She is such a big helper (still) and I don't know what I would do without her!

Jacob.... well- I just love my boy! He gets to spend some pretty good time with mom these days. We got him into a headstart program (which I am not too fond of so far), which he seems to like, but not sure if he is really getting anything from it. He only goes in the afternoons for now, so he mostly plays with Josh in the morning. Good "brother bonding" time. Jacob was in Soccer and he is so good! A natural I think. He is a fast runner and a strong kicker! I am pretty sure we will be doing soccer with him for many years to come! Right now, we are working on getting him off of Pull ups at night. He is doing pretty good. He gets a special prize/treat after 5 nights of being dry. Yesterday was his first special prize... he wanted a toy...a cap gun and toy handcuffs. So funny! But, he is already talking about what he will do for his next special prize/treat. He also already has a list for Santa. I tell you, this boy doesn't waste any time!

Joshua.... is just growing up WAY TOO FAST! He is truly such a joy! He makes new milestones all the time.. beginning to run a little now, walks down steps all by himself, throws balls VERY WELL, kicks a soccer ball almost as good as his big brother, drinks out of a big boy cup, and just recently has been taken off of the binkie. This is frustrating at times for the both of us... but we will deal with it and get through it. I am hoping that by doing this, it will help him to talk to us a little more... hopefully.

Me.... well, I can't believe how busy I have been. I will be going back to school in January to get a degree in Emergency Management Services. I am so very excited about this! It is something that I have been interested in for years. I have volunteered with the Habitat for Humanity and will be looking for opportunities to volunteer with the Red Cross soon too! Other than that, I am just surviving and making some life changes that need to be made. Life is good and I know that the Lord is taking my life and turning into what it needs to be.

So- I think that is it..... Now time for some cute pictures. This is the LONG part of blogging.... I think, anyway! So- I will start with the oldest pics.... I left off at 4th of July....

Okay... it's not letting me add any photos... .dang! I will try again in a minute.

Lehi Days

So- last weekend we went to Lehi days. Lehi is where Rachelle lives. It was so much fun. Lots of things for the kids to do. Lots of free stuff AND the rides and everything else were so affordable!! Like, all the rides were 25cents. We stayed for a long time and let the kids do rides for a long time. Just lots of fun hanging out. Oh- and I ran into a guy from my mission- Brian Allred. That was CRAZY! Who would have thought I would have actually seen anyone I knew? Hmm.. anyway-- here are a few pics from Lehi Days....

This is Samantha after she got her face painted with a red, white and blue butterfly... What a perfect little model! Dang she is cute!This is Jacob with his spiderman face painting job. Can you believe these were only .25 cents??This is all of us (minus Josh- he didn't get his face painted- too young). I got a little design on the side of my eyes too... can't see it very well, but it was really good! This is Josh swinging! He did NOT want to get out of this swing... but he was starting to get RED! So- No option there!And- this is Josh with his new little friend Presley. Isn't she just the cutest thing?? They are so cute together! They are sharing the stroller right now. They both just climb up and sit there and look around and talk to each other. Cute kids!

A little catching up....

So- I haven't been on here in a long time. Just haven't had time. I started classes at GRCC to get my ECE certificate a few months ago and it has just kept me VERY busy!! Not to mention- alot of things going on in my personal life, end of school for the kids, and everything else. I decided that my life was quickly becoming unmanageable.... and I had decided to take a vacation to Utah for a couple weeks. Well, later I decided to make it for a couple months. I needed to take a step back from everything going on and get clear on some things. So, the kids and I are in Provo, Utah. We will be staying at least until the middle of August. The kids are loving it! I am staying with one of my BFF's from college (Ricks). She has a furnished basement that she had renters in, but they moved out about a month before we got here. Perfect timing! It was meant to be. Anyway- I am only 20 minutes away from another one of my college roommates- Rachelle, another one of my BFF's, and it is just so great being with them so much again! I love it! The kids all have their new friends..... Cee Cee has Jaimen who recently turned 5. Him and Jacob do everything together. Cee Cee also has Shea- who is 8 and her and Samantha do everything together! Rachelle has a little girl named Presley- who is the cutest little thing! And Joshua LOVES her! Although, it wasn't love at first sight. Pres is a bit of a bully and it took a while for Josh to warm up to her- and her to him... but they are great friends now, giving loves and sharing all the time! It is so cute!

Jacob has learned how to ride his bike without his training wheels! He was afraid at first, but I knew he was ready. I don't think his training wheels have been touching the ground for months now. It sure has sped him up though! He LOVES to ride his bike even more now. Cee Cee's oldest is Kai and He sure does play with the kids well too. It's the big brother they never had. and then Cee Cee also has Madilyn who is 11 I think. hmmmm.. hope I didn't get that wrong. Rachelle has a daughter Morgen who is 10- so they hang out when we are all together. Rachelle also has one more- Whitney who is 12. She just does whatever... The kids are getting to know everyone real well though. When we first got here, Danny- Rachelle's husband, was trying to get Josh to high 5 him... Josh just looked at him like "what is wrong with you!" But, amazingly- somehow Josh figured it out because the next time we saw Danny and he asked Josh to give him a high 5- Josh did it! It was so cute! Now, he walks up to everybody and gives them a high 5. I also got Josh's hair cut again-- the long hair was just too much in this heat! So- he looks like a bigger boy now!

Samantha has been trying everything with her friends... she has gone to hula, basketball camp, and she has been invited to go to a cheer class with Morgen. She is really loving it!

Anyway- since we are in UTAH, we celebrated the 4th of July on the 3rd of July.... really confusing to my kids... but, it was fun! It was different not being with my family! I really missed that. But, I did try my best to do it CARROLL style... I made my Dad's famous BBQ sauce and made ribs, a layered salad, corn on the cob, fruit and chips. It was so yummy! Peanut butter brownies for dessert as we watched BYU stadium fireworks going off. It was a good day! So- here are some pictures of some recent events.... I don't have 4th of July on here yet, but I will hopefully get those up soon! This is of Joshua golfing.... We went to hit some balls after my birthday dinner at Milam's and Joshua decided to try it out on his own. He actually looks like he knows what he is doing. CUTE! This is Samantha and Jacob at Gene Coulon Park in Renton. We had a 3 day weekend but didn't really do anything... .So, I decided to take an extra day and go play.. so we did! Had a great time!This is Joshua- playing at Gene Coulon Park. He had so much fun!

New York, New York

In early November we went to New York for the 2nd time to visit Suzanne and the family. Paige was getting baptized and really wanted us there. Not to mention the kids really wanted to BE there! So- we went. My mom went with us to help me out with 3 kids. First time flying with Joshua- so it was nice to have her there. It was so much fun. It's always nice to get away for a little bit. The one special thing we did while we were there, besides the very special baptism of Paige Mckenna Quillen, was to go to New York to see the Statue of Liberty. It was GREAT!!! I loved it, and the kids LOVED it! I don't think they will EVER forget it! So here are the pics of that wonderful event!

Suzanne, Paige and Samantha sang a really pretty song at the baptism. Samantha still sings it. Maybe she will want this one sung at her own baptism in May this next year. Hmmm...

Oh- Aren't they cute together?

Paige opening birthday gifts and baptism gifts.

Perry stole Paige's hat. It did look really cute on her!

On the ferry to the Island to see Lady Liberty herself!

And there she is!

Do we look good or what?? I decided that being the Statue of Liberty for Halloween next year would be a good idea.

The (big) kids!

Me, Samantha, and Jacob

At the airport waiting to head home....Joshua

Jacob

and Samantha (she is such a big helper!).

I think this at least catches me up to the first week in December. Phew!! Now to just get my last Mt. SI hike pictures and Christmas pics up. It's on the list! Anyone want to take a guess on how long it will take for me to do that???

More Catching up....

So- I also have some pictures of Samantha at Soccer. It was her first year playing. She LOVED it! She couldn't be still... she would bounce around all the time, she was so excited!

She played defender best... so she only did goalie about 1 or 2 times.

and of course- have to eat the oranges at half time!

This is a pic of the cake I made for the Banquet. It was actually a half circle soccer ball cake. It was my first ever attempt.. so, not the best, but it worked! :) Her team name was the CHEETAHS..

This is at her Awards Banquet. She was so excited to get an award! The boy with her was a brother of one of the other team members. Coach Lori couldn't make it, so he handed out the awards to the girls and tried to make each one of them special...it was cute! Can't wait for next season!

Some Serious Catching up...

Okay- so I have some serious catching up to do. I was looking at my pictures these past few months and noticed I havent' been updating this very well. LOTS have been going on. My brother Alan FINALLY married Christie! It was a beautiful wedding! And, it is especially wonderful to OFFICIALLY have Christie part of the family now! Here are a few pics of the wedding day. I have lots more, but these are just a few.

Cutting Cake and eating Lunch

Carroll Family pic- (at least all of us that were there).
Keith, Rochelle & Alayna

Donny and I and then my Mom & Dad

Then, my brother Mike and his girls Stormy and Tessa.

Alan & Christy with James right after the ceremony.

Keith and Brandyn

Christie's Sisters and Cousin (bridesmaids)
Alan and his boys (best men)

Donny and Dad

Alan & Christie (love this pic)

And here are two really cute pictures of my boys in the bath. I know, one of these days I am going to REALLY be in TROUBLE for these ones! Oh well! LOl!
Joshua eating his "Y"

Jacob & Joshua