Fall Break Cousin Exchange...

We are proud part-owners of an amazing Time Share, appropriately called "The Cousin Exchange." The benefits are incredible and include unlimited useage with no black out dates. Ownership in this Time Share not only pays for itself but is a great investment (and who isn't looking for a safe way to protect their investments these days.)

This weekend, being Fall Break from school, we decided to cash in on some "Time Share Bonus Time." Those of you who own Time Shares will know that this is when you can get LAST MINUTE opportunities for a great bargain.

So, having taken advantage of those LAST MINUTE benefits, all the Time Share owners met at our house today to swap kids, after the cousins "exchanged" homes for the school holiday. The kids were so happy being together that we didn't have the heart to seperate them. Therefore, we let them play together in the backyard for the afternoon. For the sake of their Grandma (who is far away over mountains and oceans) here are some of the good times they had...

The Three Blind Mice...

Grandpa & Grandma Atkinson have been blessed with 20 (and counting) amazing grandchildren, split evenly down the middle with 10 boys and 10 girls (not bad when they started with 5 sons and 1 daughter.) The oldest four are all boys and the best of friends. Following them are these three beauties. They too are the best of friends and enjoy spending lots of time together (usually choreographing a new dance, creating a dramatic production or simply making crafts.) Recently, they have found they have more in common than ever before. A little something called "Nearsightedness!"

Sydnee, 10 yrs old

(has had glasses for a few weeks)






Abby, 9 yrs old

(has had glasses for a few years)






Kelsie, 8 yrs old

(has had glasses for a few months)

The girls are excited to be in THIS together. As the years go by and their friendships strengthen, their talents develop and their beauty blossoms, they will look back and see how incredibly wonderful it was to grow up sharing their lives together.

I've heard it said, "You can pick your friends. You can pick your nose. But you can't pick your friend's nose." No, wait - that's not it.

What about, "You can pick your friends, but not your family!" Yes - that's what I was looking for!

In this family, these cousins have chosen to be FRIENDS first - and FAMILY second!" Isn't it nice to have it ALL!

Let Your Fingers Do The Talkin'...

Emilee came home from playing at a friend's house with a cute little Diego band aid on her thumb (from past experience we only buy ugly band aids so they don't become body stickers.) She removed it to show me her owie (from a hang nail.) After a few minutes she decided she needed another band aid because a "little owie can hurt like a big one!"

She climbed onto the counter and started searching in the band aid cupboard. When I looked up, she had picked out a huge band aid (the kind you use when you scrape your entire kneecap off!) She had opened it up and was trying to put it on.

"Emilee, that band aid is too big for your little thumb!"

(I repeated this observation several times, as she was in deep concentration and I was unsure she heard me the first time.)

To which she finally replied,

"Mom, (sigh) my thumb can't hear you!"

(Well, it's no wonder her thumb couldn't hear me. It's completely covered in a band aid!!!)

Rainy Day Football Game...

So far, with regards to Brock's tackle football season, we have been pretty lucky when it comes to the weather. However, last Saturday morning our luck ran out and the final regular season game was played in a steady stream of pouring rain, with the occasional gust of wind to make things really interesting. That being the case, we left the other kids home while Kelly and I braved the weather to watch Brock play.

The Lindon Vikings shot the Juan Diego Eagles out of the sky over their own turf... real true turf... in a real true high school football stadium, instead of a junior high grass field (typically unmowed and lumpy.) Being that the game was played during the 1st session of our LDS General Conference (hallelujah for DVR), in my mind I thought of the match up as Mormons vs. Catholics instead of Vikings vs. Eagles. I kept my finger on the snapshot button and the viewing lens to my eye the entire game. Therefore, I got some really great pictures (from under the safety of my over sized umbrella) since the spectators sit above the field on metal bleachers (thank goodness there was no lightening).

Coming... AND Going...

This picture shows Brock #3 next to his rather large opponent from the line #50 (an X man who cannot carry the ball because he tips the scales over 105 lbs.) Although there is a noticeable difference in size, Brock repeatedly "knocked him on his butt" throughout the game. Hence... the size of the heart matters most AND nobody loves the game more than Brock (except for maybe his Dad.)

Brock in action (going for the throat) demonstrating how he takes down the opposition by restricting their air flow!!!

Brock is always a good sport and a thoughtful friend.

Here he is giving a hand to fellow teammate Koy after a tackle.

The Huddle - with Coach Kelly.

My favorite play is when we fake out the other team while hiking the ball. The other team always moves off sides and we move down the field for 1st down. I love it!!

Brock plays on the defense team and spends his game time and energy protecting the ball and his team players who carry it down the field and deliver it to the end zone. Therefore, he rarely gets the opportunity to go after and tackle the other team when they have the ball. However, today our team threw an unfortunate interception and Brock (#3) was standing by to take the ball thief down. It was a beautiful site! It reminded me of watching a National Geographic Special about a powerful, massive lion chasing and tackling a light, fleeting gazelle. Pretty impressive!!!

Like Fathers...

Like Sons...

High five from a proud father. It was a great season!!!

Ignorance is Bliss...

Ryan came home from school today looking like this.

I told myself, "Don't even ask!"

But I did.

I am telling you, "Don't even ask!"

(I hope somewhere at school today he got some kind of academic credit for this! AND hopefully he has learned that not all markers are washable!!)

Learning from the Animals...

With the economy going "hog wild" and essentially in a "pigsty", we should take comfort in the fact that, according to this mama...

"Life in a pigsty is not all that bad. You can always find something to smile about!"

Gettin' Down on the Farm...

A few weeks ago (when the weather was alot warmer) I went with Emilee on a preschool fieldtrip to the Pumpkin Farm. There was so much to do and see that we were rushing to do it ALL in just two hours. The kids could hardly wait to get started.

First, we wandered around inside the corn maze, which was in the shape of a spider's web. We let Emilee & Sienna led the way and were pleasantly surprised when after a short time they found the EXIT.

Animals, Animals, Animals Everywhere...



Emilee is a total animal lover (with no fear whatsoever) AND since there were lots of different animals (cows, bunnies, goats, horses, chickens, pigs) to be seen on the farm, she happily skipped around the pens, petting and visiting every one of them (multiple times).










Several fun slides!

Cute photo opts!




While climbing around this haystack playground, Emilee made a surprising discovery (see for yourself.)

After a fun hayride around the farm, Emilee & Sienna searched in the pumpkin patch for their very own pumpkin. It was a very fun day. On the way home Emilee announced, "Mom, let's go there tomorrow!"