If last week was “a little bit of a fiasco”  I don’t know what we’d call this week! Part 2???

The boys have been over to Rays working on the pond they are digging for him. Seth came back FREEZING…let’s call it a good opportunity for me to forgive Isaac because holy cow you’re completely bundled it’s maybe 20 degrees out there and Seth did have a coat (albeit a thin one) gloves and hat but the poor kid was FREEZING and came back in tears and who do you think got to solve it—not dad! 

Anyway The week: 

Saturday was Riz’s birthday. All that had to happen was basketball for Cannon and Tanner AND a quick family trip to the cemetery. 

We were successful on all accounts. 

I need to see if Andrea has posted some better pics of Triple Threat

Sethy thought Riz needed a present so he got Duke (name came with it) but they all call him “Boog” the character off of the Open Season movie. Sister is the only one who doesn’t love it even if she’s the only one I have a picture of. 



If I’d known how many fights they’d get in over it I probably wouldn’t have gone for it. But we try to celebrate that little guy any way we can! 

The reason I don’t want Tanner to play with the same bball team next year is he’ll be in 2nd grade and this team will play 3rd and 4th graders this year he’s a first grader but playing 1st and 2nd graders—think there’s a size difference? Sheesh! 

Like that he stepped in front of this pass, maybe we’ll work on keeping his eyes open next time so he catches it —instead of catching in the nose…



But his coach was determined to clobber the only team that had played us close all year so he rested his studs and Tanner got to play this whole game! He did great-it just reaffirmed my opinion that he needs to actually play more (win or lose) if he’s going to get better-on this team that’s never going to happen. But whatever-one more month, who’s counting? 😏

More treats for Riz. We hope there are cupcakes & I’ve cream bars in heaven buddy! 

Sunday the only thing I remember was after church I swung by Bro Shockey’s house (he’s the guy that gave us the nod on burying Riz where we did) I wanted to meet his wife and I did! It was just a quick “hi” at the door but that was important to me. 

Monday I took Tan to the dentist -he did great! Since his appt was at 1:00 but I drop Seth right there at noon I just got him at noon and we went and got his Pizza Hut bookit pizza for reading. That made it pretty fun. We hung out at the Pettits after school until it was time for Cannon to go to practice. It’s always fun to see our friends! And this is the only pic I have from that day but we have a big shot on her hands. A big shot with a lot of teeth! 

And Tuesday I went to the dentist in Moberly. Nice guy but Ug! I had a tooth pulled and an implant put in. And…maybe I still feel like I got kicked in the face!!! That first night was way rough and I picked local anesthetic so I could drive myself but holy smokes having to hear them snap crackle pop digging that thing out-it was awful. And the gal had told me probably 2 hours…uh it was 3.5. And I wasn’t sitting in that chair very good so day 2 I could barely lift Addi and my back hurt as bad as my face. Oh it was just a disaster all the way around. Thankfully I’m on the mend. 

The Dr down there called me himself Tuesday night I thought that was pretty impressive and then my dentist text Wednesday and basically said “whoa you had a lot done-are you doing ok?”  So at least the docs care that I got kicked in face. 

I didn’t write about Saturdays disaster and the excavator sliding off of the lowboy 😳😳😳

He was going to take it to our old neighbors but loading didn’t go so well. 

I drove under the boom on my way to take Tan to basketball—at that point we didn’t know what was going to happen but the track had started to slip and he reached the boom out to try to drag himself back on…but it didn’t work. Anyway he called bball and told me he’d got out of the mess. I guess the track slipped all the way off and he drove it off. Yikes. 

His friend that was one of his “phone a friend” calls told him “never try to load that machine off to the side of the road it’s way too heavy you have to be right in the middle” ok lesson learned. 

So Wednesday he was pumped when he got it loaded up himself. (He didn’t go for the road just our driveway-which I thought was better than blocking other people) 

Only thing. He needed Cannons help-look close- wasn’t on there straight! 

But he figured it would be ok. He took Colt with him to go get fuel but…they didn’t make it. 

I’m not sure how they turned out of the driveway but he had so much weight on the drop axle and no pressure gauge -now I’m writing about things I literally know NOTHING about, but ask Seth he might know- anyway I guess he couldn’t turn cuz his front wheels…maybe weren’t even touching??? I don’t know but safe it say it was “a bit of a fiasco” grandmas’s four wheeler has already been extremely usuful around here! Isaac didn’t take his phone on that deal but our neighbor and friend Brittany hauled them back. Again I took Tan to bball while they were just trying to get it unloaded and back home before young Mens. Cannon had to be the helper and drive the 4 wheeler down to be able to drive the excavator back. 

Cannon ended up taking out the power line by the Kilmer’s silage pit-the poor kid was devastated. Isaac was behind him cuz it took a while to get that truck and trailer turned around. He felt bad he hadn’t reminded him to look out for it. The power company came and fixed it Thurs Isaac was really positive with him and said “oh we just have to learn from it” I agreed and also said “don’t you worry about that for 1 second-you are 11 and you were just trying fo help dad out!!!” 

Anyway. But if a fiasco is the understatement of a life time! Or all 7 of our life times! 

Why would she eat the stuff I give her when her brothers give her cookies?!

Thursday was the 100th day of school. Only Colts class dressed up. 

Isaac wants to help our old neighbor out with his excavator (his whole shop burned down) but yesterday he punted in that -for now- and took his machine over to Ray’s  (cuz he can drive it that far 😂😂) to at least work on something! Ray has a pond project for him. 

Today they were all over there-and came back like popsicles. I think the high today was 20 degrees but it “felt like 9”

Ug! 

Whatever! 

Ray sent me that pic-I didn’t make it over there. Actually after the tooth ordeal I didn’t do much -except laundry and dishes- this week! 

Until next week—could be “bit of a fiasco” round three…stay tuned!! 😉

A little bit of a fiasco

I’ve been waiting all week to use that title cuz really isn’t our life a little bit of a fiasco? Most of the time it’s a pretty good description. Ha! But we better back up-to Saturday. 

There’s just not much we can do to celebrate Riz’s birthday. But when I ponder on it-if I could do anything-I’d go to the temple. It’s the best place to feel close to him and there’s just a peace there that comes with an eternal perspective! So it was a week early but Pres Thomas totally got us a temple date—with a babysitter!! Happy Birthday Riz. Thank you stake presidency! It was the annual high priest quorum get together and this time we did a temple session and then had dinner! 

Oh and even better-we swapped with the Pettit’s and got to go in the baptistery with this handsome young man! 

The only fiasco was we went our normal route -so fun to sneak in and say hi to Jack and Ellen (Farnsworth) we could visit for hours but we didn’t really have 5 minutes, especially because right at their  road we saw the “bridge closed ahead” sign 😩 Ellen had totally warned me about it but I forgot. So we had to back track then head out on an especially winding and up down road. 

Tanner had medicine on board but…this girl didn’t. Ug. Luckily I was back there when she launched and I caught a ton of it with the paper towels and puke bag that were close. I did have to scrub the van seat but not her car seat…thanks to the coat. 

So we had to tub off at the arrival center-they have a shower but try as I might I couldn’t get hot water—so we opted for a sink! And we were in the diaper bag clothes before we even got started! 

I thought Sis would be fine with the babysitters her bros we’re all there I wasn’t worried at all! I was wrong. The brothers were no help because a movie was on and she screamed the whole time. Sorry tenders! We grabbed her before the dinner and while there she pooped up the back—yeah-little bit of a fiasco. I was glad it was me and not the babysitter-she’d put up with enough! So we head home and the roads are terrible!! I’ve said it before but Isaac is a good driver-the conditions just scare me! And it scares me when he passes people because they use their brakes. I know I get it that it’s safer to be in front of them but still every time it makes be so nervous. The whole time I’m thinking  “Surely a temple blessing is that we get home safe.” 🙏🏻 And we did👍🏻 

Sunday-normal
Only I let the kids makes snow cones and Isaac said they really probably shouldn’t be eating that—whoops I like them thought it was a great idea. 

Monday oh wait-Monday I started listening to “the full cup” podcast-I hate that the logo looks like a cup of coffee but I really like the podcast.  My mom recommended it because it might help me with a certain child, but as I started listening I quickly realized I need it for me! It’s good stuff. 

So I’m hooked. Now back to the rest of Monday.
Isaac and Tanner went to get the new truck Isaac bought at the end of last year—well his company bought. 

Bro Baker (so thankful for him) took them to Kansas City and they flew to Vegas then took and took an Uber up to the auction. I guess it was a little bit of a fiasco getting the truck out -since it was the middle of the night-but Isaac pulled it off and…thanks for the blog title. 

They got to my mom & dads around 6:15am my time. So maybe it was a lot of a fiasco since they got to Vegas at 1:00an my time. Oh I asked but Isaac did Awesome-probably best ever!- about keeping in touch with me letting me know they’d made it and stuff.  It was fantastic! I am grateful!

 I didn’t think anything of it when he bought the tickets (tickets into Vegas for $29 he had to take a kid for a deal like that!) anyway I didn’t realize how cruddy it would be to be “missing a kid” this week-but Ug it was kind of awful! Just an unexpected wrinkle. 

After some quick Grama time they headed for Huntington—and the next fiasco. I don’t think Isaac even knows Lauren was sending me videos of him and Shawn trying to get their moms car unstuck then loading the four wheeler. I might have to update this later I’m too tired to go into all the details. 

Then the drive—again! 

Bad weather —again! 

Blew a trailer tire…maybe 2 I can’t remember. 

But they made it!!! And super dad  let him drive it that night! 

Thankfully they got back the 25th before the 26th came. Oh but Tuesday was a snow day-it was a snow day 2 dears ago too.. 

Colt Cannon and Seth played out in it all morning. I like that! I thought they were rolling balls for a snowman—silly me—they were building forts for their snowball fights. 

Finally got around to breaking the wish bone. 

Thursday we took them out to dinner for Rizzy’s birthday. They were pretty good…



Also Seth thought Riz needed presents. Hopefully we get over there to open this tomorrow. 
Look at that mouthful of teeth! She’s getting big quick! 

And just some notes I found in Colt’s backpack. It was”kindness week” at school.

Might not be all but it has to be. Friday is one of the days that Cannon has weights at 6:00. Yikes. Im afraid the ole blog is going to suffer. Or at least I’m going suffer! I’m tired!  To get him there at 6:00 means I’m up making lunches at 5:00 and the Addster used to only get up once a night but that was before teeth. All this to say I’m tired! 

Fiasco! And I didn’t even mention the switching of phone plans only to switch back the very next day…but now he has both??? Who knows! 

Pretty boring week—I’ll take it.

I mean…I’ve bought more shoes in the last week than anyone in their right mind! I got “hit by a sale” in my Grandmas words…and hit by the shopping bug too. Whoops-kinda fun though-and…well  I have  a few more excuses but whatever! We’ve got enough little feet around here I’m sure they’ll get worn. 

Saturday the boys had basketball-Cannon in the morning (we chatted with Mark Cahalan pretty much the whole game and sort of watched 😂 he’s such a nice guy-it was fun to chat) but Cann played great -and he’s probably better off with me distracted- the game was tied at half but they pulled away. Tanner played up at Schuyler county in the afternoon but I stayed home with the other kids and Isaac was the basketball man. (Man I sure got a lot more done when I was the one who stayed😉)

Sunday

😍 smiles and popcorn softy’s 

She pulls herself up to whatever she wants whenever she wants—LOOK OUT! 

Pretty proud of herself. 

And I had to try to capture the pea progression😂😂😂

Ha ha

Probably the best news of the week is that I (finally) got this girl antibiotic.

I wait too long. Every time. 

But 2 doses in she’s a ton better-thank heaven. 

And we have 5 kids (here) but there were only pics of the Addster on my phone this week-whoops sorry boys! 

Luckily Isaac came through for me. We didn’t get all of them but 2 is better than none. He got a new phone (his old phone already took way better pictures than mine but he dropped it on the Dixie Rock when we were in Utah and you know he would have salvaged it if he could have but it was cracked so bad there was only one little section at the bottom you could swipe without getting a glass sliver 😳 yikes)  anyway they were having a blast playing the the “Magic Eraser” I think originally Sethy’s little distorted hand was on Isaacs knee or something? Maybe??

We stayed busy 

Dentist Appointments a couple of the days (Tanner told me he wants to be a dentist I thought yes please!🤞🏻🙏🏻) -basketball practice-children and youth-young mens. Oh and RS too. 

The only other pics on my phone for from the 1965 Santa Clara ward directory. (Did I already write about it?? I might have…) I’ve been trying to get them in on family search. It’s pretty wild to see the young family version of all the people that were pretty darn old while I was growing up. But it’s good memories too—and what a  great place to grow up! 

Oh and I got my 2022 blog book back this week. I love those things-they are like my prized possessions! I don’t do this every week for nothing! 😉

Someday I should probably edit the blog and reprint them. But for now it’s just a printed typo version of whatever I throw in there. But I love holding the tangible copy in my hand!!! 

One last thing: The more kids we have to take pics of and write about sometimes it’s the less details about the kids individually so I wanted to remember to write this about Seth-a-roo. I think I already wrote about him calling Anti Freeze “Banana freeze” but he also consistently calls it a “copter-heli” and a “neck-goose”it reminds me of Cannon calling it a back-ha-hoe LONG after he could say everything clearly. But on that note he got so excited to tell me about a great pass he threw to his buddy he said “mom it was perfect I needled the thread” he knows the term he just got ahead of himself-it was pretty funny. 

And Seth told Isaac the other day “You’re different dad.” Isaac asked what he meant and he said “You’ve got those spikes in your face!” 

Funny stuff

I love this crazy crew we’ve got! 

Man-the weeks go quick. 

Basketball all day last Saturday. 

Tan had the 7:30 game. 

Mrs Totta seriously came-she’s amazing! Cannon had the afternoon and into the evening. 

No pics

Except the 2nd place mad one

Well Andrea was there taking some so hopefully I end up getting some of the good ones 

I was too busy screaming like a maniac to take pics 

I should be quiet but… I can’t! 

Sunday-normal. Oh Elder Holland devotional 👍🏻

Mondays only pic

And Tuesday’s rodeo

Oh my! 

Have we established Isaacs NOT a horse guy? But he is optimistic-and he thinks he is… sigh

I’m in the house he calls and says “ya better come take a picture of our surveying crew” so I do.

ALL of these pictures were taken in the same minute…

So Basically what happens is this: I take the pic of Seth on Enzo (actually I take two) then I turn around and head toward the house, only I don’t even take 2 steps before I hear “whoa whoooaaaa” I turn around and Seth is on his hind end a little way down the driveway and other kids are scattering like confetti in the wind. I watch and listen Seth’s definitely crying but not like a hurt cry so finally I just start taking pics. You could argue that I should’ve videos it-which might have been good but the video would’ve had what I had to say about the situation. Not good. 

Basically that big yellow container as soon as the horse took 1-2 steps down hill it bounced up the stuff inside rattled around and it came down and hit him in the butt and goodbye cowboy Seth-hello circus. 

Have mercy! 

Seth was torn between mad “I hate Enzo” and instantly ready to get back on. I guess that’s good. 

All of this happened because they were on their way over to Rays because they’re going to build him (dig him?) a pond. Maybe two. So the boys are pumped for this family business…until they come home and tell me “dad didn’t pay us anything!” And Isaac is like “we just took measurements—besides you guys just complained the whole time”  

So in the end apparently it’s Isaac dream is to have a family business but one day in and they all want out 😂 Can’t find good help these days. Apparently we can’t raise it either. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Oh and once they got over there (and left the surveying stuff off-the rodeo can’t have been good for that stuff) but everyone that wanted to (including Seth) got back on the horse. And it was fine. 

So that was Tuesday

I just like pics with her brothers! The bat is a double bonus.

Wednesday Cannon got all signed up for early morning weights. 😩

So now it’s 4 kids at 4 different schools and 3 days a week it’s 4 different trips to town too. Ug.

 But I’m trying to think of it in a more positive light like oh hey it’s one on one time when I drive him in…right? I guess. 

This house is so messy but I might be the only one that cares. 😩

Mom life I guess

It’s funny sometimes I express frustration to Isaac and I just want him to hear me out maybe say “I’m sorry” or something but not try to fix it…BUT in this case I express frustration with how messy everything EVERYWHERE around her is and he says “I’m sorry” 

Wait 

No! 

This one you could fix—-

Please!!!! 

Ha! Oh well! 

Anyway what else? It been pretty cold. Especially when it’s windy-yuck. 

The boys are back to school but Isaac isn’t so I don’t feel like we’ve really gotten into a routine. 

Just survive right? Isn’t that a win? 

I’ve score a couple lunch dates though-we like those! 

More pics—not sure I approve of them hauling her around like this, but I remember then doing it to Seth.

She’s just starting to pull herself up to things—look out! 

More brother pics. I was trying to get a pic of her little boots to send the friend that gave them to us but I’ll take brother pics! 

I think that’s about it. 

Cannon wanted to go down to the basketball games tonight so we got that fourth trip to town in-yikes (Fridays Seth doesn’t have school so I get out of one trip) Sister and I toughed it out. I like bball but

I am tired and want to go to bed. 

Addi was WAAAYYYY tired but no worries-Tans tending while I blog. 

Good enough—if I think of something else I’ll add it in later. 👍🏻

Happy New Year

Tanner has basketball early tomorrow (which he’s not happy about. I’m not really sure why he said he wanted to play-it really cramps his style having to have a schedule and be places-totally Isaac-out of the kid who is usually Mr Frei. Anyway I didn’t make him play but I won’t let him quit.) that’s a pretty long intro all to say if I was smart at all I’d be quick and get to bed. 

Saturday we went to the Warbirds museum in St. George that Caroline knew about -it was pretty dang fun! We had a fun tour guide and my boys love that kind of stuff! Win! 

After we grabbed lunch hit our favorite park to race at (wished the Tilton’s were with us) and then headed over to meet up with Isaacs cousins (Uncle Coy’s family)  in Coral Canyon. Swimming outside on New Year’s Eve—yes please!! 

Cannon was too stubborn to get in on the fun. Oh well he thought he was pretty big stuff in on find grown up conversation too.

That night Isaac fixed my moms faucet-favorite son in law— and then we went on a date. 

We had no idea where to eat or what to do—we’re pretty boring—but we had fun being together and driving around. We ended up with a milkshake first but I have a tooth issue so I can’t do cold. I snuck a few bites on the not sensitive side. Then we finally settled on Durangos, but it was closed,  but Chipotle was in the same parking lots so we figured good enough. After Isaac ordered and I watched them dish it up I was like eh I’m good.  But again I had a few bites of his. We got a pretty good laugh out of him offering to take me anywhere and by me anything then only buying himself a milkshake and dinner. We drove around the temple and then the old Ivins 2nd ward. It was fun and nostalgic. 

Sunday we left sick Addi home with sick Grama and went to church. It was a good meeting highlighted by Grampa sharing his testimony because the boys were there and he wanted them to know he has one. And they have a dynamic Sunday School teacher-it was great. And the kids loved Primary-Seth’s first week! And Cannon thinks the Deacon’s quorum their ward is pretty alright. I like to look at the youth and guess who their parents are since I went to high school with a ton of them. Ha! 

That night (after being sustained in his quorum here) Isaac was able to confer the Aaronic Priesthood on Cannon an ordain him to the office of a deacon. Pretty dang cool! 

And keeping with what I’d like to be a tradition we wrote what we could remember from the blessing down. 

Other than that I just had the cutest smiley little sick as can be baby. Poor thing! Oh and teething with the sickness Addster has a fang now. 

Oh and we’re happy for him but sad our good friend and original KV home teacher Bro Chace passed away. We were lucky to know him-he’s a great man!! 

Monday the plan was to go back to Huntington then back over the Rockies between storms. I’m not sure why we makes plans —ever! 

First of all Isaac decided if he was going to buy a truck  for his business tax wise Saturday was the day to do it-or Friday. Whatever —2022. I can’t believe I forgot that part. Anyway we still thought it best to just drive one car home but why would he pull that trailer (and 4 wheeler?) across the country if he’s bringing a truck shortly…so we’d left a ton of junk in Huntington. Then we left the skis and bins in Santa Clara and headed for home. The forecast had changed and he just wanted to get to Denver by Monday evening. 

Oh and Happy 13 years to us. We’re not very good celebraters. We actually called an Olive Garden in Denver West and made a reservation for the whole family but as we were sliding on super slick roads and there was an accident that we actually got by really quick -thank goodness -we were just like no let’s just get past this and go…so we canceled. Saturdays date was our anniversary attempt! 

This is taking forever-I was supposed to be quick. 

Whoops -anyway it was a disaster. On the drive  we stopped in Beaver for food. Richfield for wiper fluid. And Salina for gas. We’re we ever going to get anywhere? Then I started reading a history of Santa Clara thing I’d found in my Grandmas loot of treasures in my parents attic (I always try to snag one or two things to add to familysearch) anyway it was fascinating but totally put Isaac to sleep. When I finished (it was only a few pages) he said “are you ready to drive?” So I did. BLESSING!!!  Because he got a little nap. I didn’t drive long, I think Addi started fussing or something but it kept him going through the night. The roads were HORRIBLE!!!! I remember one time driving home in freezing rain that was awful but it was only for a few hours. This was ALL of Colorado pretty much. It didn’t get any better until I-70 drops a little further south after Colby or wherever. It was AWFUL! We had to pass 30 cars off the road-watched one go off. Several Semi’s off too-I’d guess 4 or 5. It was just terrible! And slow! When we started out Isaac asked “what are the chances we actually stop and stay somewhere?” I said 5% but I was fine with it cuz I was ready to be home too. Plus if we stop I still get zero sleep and we have the whole 2nd half of the drive. Ug. Anyway it was harrowing and I was praying my guts out. Isaac is a really good driver but I still just kept thinking how dumb we were to be out in that-we didn’t need to be anywhere. Ug! He drove 21 of the 24 hours too. Holy cow! But we made it. 
And boy were these two happy to see each other—the picture doesn’t do it justice! 

Then we still had Christmas stuff to do! 



When I told Isaac I’d bought him a present he said “oh I’ll like it” 

Liar-he totally returned it. But I also bought him drill bits (which he’s used and liked already) but first thing he did was gripe about me buying expensive ones. I retaliated with him not knowing how good of a deal I’d gotten the ripped him a little for sucking at receiving gifts. I had know idea but that was a great thing to get off my chest! 😂 he said “I know, I suck at giving them too” I agreed but told him he did great this year! 

Did I write that last week? He actually got me a present this year!!!! (Seriously this might not be a first—but it’s close! Typically if I want something I better go buy it myself.) But while I was in the temple he went to DesBook and got what he needed then also got me a big beautiful picture of the Nauvoo temple and a little picture of Jesus with a little girl that will end up in Addi’s room. It was fun. Surprising! And he did good! 

The rest of the pics 

I need to be done but…a few more! 
I don’t know about the always eating paper stuff but when she goes for that bat—you know she’s my kid 😊


And tonight playing “Cashflow” they got for Christmas. They were cracking up when Isaac drew a card that had him wasting money on fake jewelry. Maybe ya had to be there but…it was pretty funny. They were having a blast! I’ll take it. 

Now to bed with me…they curse of being a story teller is the morning is coming!!