Please NOTE all 3 posts.

Hey it's been a busy week or two and so I lumped everything and posted 3 together....sooooo if you are interested make sure to scroll down and see our recent events!

On another note who really understands this financial "crisis"?!? I get bits and pieces of it but I'm not sure how much is political and how much I should really be thinking about! What do you think?

HUSBAND HUNKORAMA OF THE CENTURY TAG

1. Where did you meet your husband? There are many varied stories, but We met when I was 16 working at the Juice Press with Stu's nephew and some of his good friends, He was just fresh off his mission, thought I was cute but "too young"! I don't remember this story. My story is that we met in the Mount Mahogany singles ward where Stu and his big smile was the ward mission leader and was giving a combined lesson. I tried to get my friend to date him, but he "remembered" me from the juice press. When I found out he was a Squires I said "oh you are a Squires" and walked away. Hey we actually have a picture of our first date that I wish I could get on here.
2. How long did you date before you married? We dated from June until October and we were engaged from October to February a whopping 8 months.

3. How long have you been married? 8 years (9 in February)!

4. What does he do that surprises you? He still can make me laugh although it's getting harder! He's always up for a challenge though!

5.What is his favorite feature? his or mine? My FAVORITE feature about Stu is his big BIG smile. It lights up his whole face. You can't help but smile when he's smiling. He also has pretty great shoulders.

6.What is his best quality? He has his head on straight about life...I think it helps in his job, but it especially is good in all his relationships. He likes everyone too!

7.Does he have a nick name for you? "D" he calls me just "D"! I like it!

8. What is his favorite food? He likes everything but mostly steak, and crepes with strawberries and whip cream!

9. What is his favorite sport? ummmmm all of them! He likes to play basketball, but loves watching football!

10. When was your first kiss? It was on our third or fourth date. We drove up into the foothills of Alpine in the Karmengia (an old convertible car) and while I was sitting on the hood he kissed me. This is the only kiss where I felt like I might faint. CORNY I KNOW!

11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? Before we had kids, which wasn't very long, we liked to hike, we even got matching packs, but once the kids came it has turned into snuggling and watching movies or driving around exploring. Boring I know.

12. Do you have any children? Um YEAH! 4! 3 boys and 1 gal! Yes we are probably having more!

13.Does he have any hidden talents? He would want me to say that he is a great hunter, but I think his hidden talent is singing and dancing. He pretends he can't in an effort to hide that he really can. Oh Yeah and he can sleep ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, and with ANY NOISE!! It's amazing really.

14. How old is he? I'm starting to lose track...32 right???

15.Who said I love you first? I'm pretty sure it was me! I'm sure he will say it was him. We were in my parents backyard looking at stars and I told him!

16. What is his favorite music? He likes old school Weezer, Metallica, and anything that I like. It always makes me feel great that he likes the music that I listen to!

17. What do you admire most about him? I really admire his relationship with our kids. He loves them like you wouldn't believe. I love watching him just be a dad! I actually sometimes get bugged cause I'm sure the kids love him more than me, but I guess that's okay!

18.What is his favorite color? I DON'T KNOW...Red???

19.Will he read this? Yep, I always catch him spying to see what I've written lately. It's cute! I love you hon!

20.Who do you tag? Katherine, Lisa, and Dianne O.

RODEO

Here are some pictures from our rodeo. The kids love it and I have to say that I don't mind it either. This year they had some really patriotic things and I have to admit that I teared up. It was good times with my cute little fam!

BIG BAD BRADEN

This last weekend was all about our oldest Braden. On Saturday he had a flag football game that he played really well in, and Saturday night he "MUTTON BUSTED"!! For all of you who don't know what mutton busting is, it is riding really big sheep in the rodeo. It's sort of like bull riding for kids. My boys have wanted to do it for years, and this year Braden was drawn to ride. He got boots, a bandana, cowboy hat, and a belt with a big buckle to wear and he was sooo nervous he couldn't even eat, but he Cowboy'd up and rode that sheep. (Of course our video camera was out of batteries) He won 2nd place and actually did really well. It was super fun to watch, and we had a lot of friends in the crowd cheering for him. The rodeo is HUGE here in S.G. and Saturday night always has like 10,000 people. Crazy eh?

Now for the really important stuff. Sunday was our primary program, and Braden was one of 5 kids who had to give an actual talk. He spent time thinking about it and came up with some really good ideas about how family home evening helps our families. He did a really great job! Cam also sang I'm a child of god loudly into the mic, and Mitchell had a small speaking part. I'm so proud of Braden and all our boys.

My best buds!

I miss family! If you know me than you know that I LOVE BEING AROUND PEOPLE...especially my Best Buds who are my family. Moving away from family has been okay, but sometimes I can't stand not being around my gang. I know that I'm not that far and it has been good to be away too, but I struggle not being around for the regular day to day stuff. It's fun to have a group to bounce ideas off and share your joys and grumps with.

I am super lucky to have lots of visitors though...

Two weekends ago Stu's mom came down and spent the weekend just being a great support and I know she sacraficed a lot to come. She is a cutie and the kids loved having her around.

Today I have my Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, and Mike here for a few days. We went to Tuacahn last night to see Les Mis and we are going again tonight to see Big River and then they are gone again. I sat by my bro Mike at the play last night and we laughed our heads off. He is leaving in a little over a month on his mission and I will miss him. My brothers are always my best brothers right before they leave on their missions...not so much when they get back! Just kidding guys!!!

Here are some pics from the last couple of weeks.

My new neice Emma ( Katie and BJ's Baby girl)The boys playing army with toy guns from Grandma Squires!Braden the high scoring, best defensive player on his 7 year old flag football team! He's sure fun to watch!

Mike and Me being "silly" at Les Miserables Tuacahn!The rest of the gang at the play!

I'm excited to support!

I'm into politics this last couple of years...part of the reason of my growing interest is I finally feel part of the "real" world; working and being responsible for paying taxes, having children including concerns about my childrens education, owning a home, healthcare and money and finally moral/religious issues. I think we too often think that politics is someone elses job, and I'm learning that the truth is that it is up to us to decide which direction our country goes.

I am extra interested after watching Sarah Palin nominee for Vice President speak her mind in the Republican National Convention. It's nice to see a young, beautiful, mother with a little bite. I feel like I can relate to her on many levels. Many of McCains policies aren't my favorite and he has done some things that I don't agree with, but together I think that they represent the best that we have available.

I'm not telling anyone who to vote for, just to do your research, find out what is important to you and find someone who best represents your beliefs and VOTE. We gotta do it!

Keepin' It Real!

Well...This is definitely keeping it real. My friend Adrienne thought it would be funny to make me take pictures of things right now and right as they are. I'm not going to pretend that it always looks good and you just caught me at the wrong moment. This is us!

The Kitchen Sink:

Okay so I know this is sick, I promise they'll get done...Maybe in the morning!

The Toilet:
Yep that's yellow water alright? I'm still teaching the boys (including Stu) to flush! Please notice my first attempt at fauxing a wall. My bathroom is blue and brown.

The laundry room:

The laundry room is the catch all, including the injured dog that we are watching for a month.

The closet:

My closet is pretty big, a pretty big mess that is! Here is part of it. I don't know what that big blue blow up thing is. Some sort of kid toy. I need to find a place for it.

The Fridge:

I didn't get too close cause I don't want you to see the all junk food and the finger prints.

My favorite room so far:

I haven't finished all of our rooms so I'm sure I'll have other fav's. Boys rule this roost, but I love having a girly room.

The Kids:

So the boys are playing school, and yes Josslyn just dumped that whole bottle of water on the floor in the 2 seconds it took me to take this picture.

This picture is after I scolded her!

This is me ya'll!

I tag Jenni with an I, Natalie L. and Kelli P, and Katherine W.

Lotsa Labor Lotsa Fun

It's a lot of work to do anything with small children, but Stu decided to take us to the north rim of the Grand Canyon for Labor day. It was SPECTACULAR! We were practically the only people there with kids, so we provided plenty of entertainment for all the oldies. My cute brother Justin and his cute wife Sarah came and spent the whole weekend with us. GOOD TIMES! We weren't really prepared for the 57 degree weather, but we weren't too cold in our shorts and flip flops. My kids were really good sports and we really enjoyed each other.

Top: Justin and I laying on an overhang...This was soooo scary. I could have fallen to my death.

Middle: My man and my babies standing on top of Angels Window.

Right: Angels window. We all stood on top of that! Crazy eh?