Who wears SHORT what?

Jaeden's hair is usually braided one way or another everyday for school. With

recess and P.E. and it still being warm outside it's just easier this way.

But, this is usually how she comes home too. Not so cute, but still adorable!

Notice how THICK each braid is though? I know, this girl has rediculously

THICK hair which is really hard for her at 7, to manage herself. So, she has been BEGGING

me to cut it. I've been hesitant because in six weks she'll be getting Baptized and it will be

so easy to do for her dad to have it in braids especially considering the amount to deal with.

My arguement wasn't winning. Dad, voted to let her cut it so...

Tonight we cut it!!

We unbraided......
We straightened.......


and then we CUT, and CUT, and CUT.....


and then we THINNED, and THINNED, and THINNED....

and then, the STACKING began!!!

I added some side layers to blend it together...

After a shower and a styling, I think she likes it!!!

I must say it's really ALOT easier on the both of us and she still is

STINKIN cute!!! Gotta love her hair!!

Please watch and Vote!

From http://www.catholicvote.com/

I'm not sure everyone realizes the importance of things at stake this election. Please watch this video! Then GO and VOTE tomorrow!! Thanks for sharing Trish!!

I Pledge....

Today Payton got to lead the school in the Pledge of Allegiance. She brought home a note last week that said that she was picked and to help her practice speaking loud and clear. She really took it to heart and practiced every day! *(Even in the mirror, just for appearance sake!)

Carson was so sweet to give her a hug to be BRAVE!!!

Here's our AWESOME Principal after just checking on the girls to see how they
were doing on their morning! Not a long stop, they were doing GREAT!!
She was so calm, not a bit nervous at all!

Just before she began she was suposed to say"Ready, begin." However, I didn't
know that she had pipes and a cheerleader voice prepared!? It was hilarious and
amazing all at the same time! What you can't see is that her other hand was tucked
behind her back as well too! Where did she pick this all up from??!! Way to go
Pay! I was really proud of her! She did an OUTSTANDING JOB!!!
I guess ALL that practicing really PAYed off!!

Canning Salsa!!

Okay, so 10 years ago I bought a how to canning book and every year I puchase another box of jars and swear this will be the year to put something in them!! Well, this was the year!! As an Enrichment commitee we began getting focused on the basics again and it's been great. Honestly, I really got fired up about it after my trip to Utah. My SIL Emily has the most amazing Canning Room filled with all her jars of love!! It's really inspiring and I'm just going to start somewhere. So I jumped in with jam and Salsa. Love them both. Here's what a pot of 20 lbs. of tomatoes turned into yummy salsa looks like!! Try it... love it!! I've since moved on to applesauce, pie filling, beans, hamburger, and more!! I think it's my new addiction!!

It's your Birthday!!!

Today is Brandon's BIG 35!!! I love ya babe for everything that you do!! You are amazing! Thank you for being an incredible husband and father to our 6 kiddos! They look up to you and love being with you! I love you and love being with you! Happy Birthday Babe!!!

Oh, Chandler....

Okay, I know that if I don't blog it I won't remember it! Chandler met a great friend at his new school and decided to train for a triathalon!! I know I'm stunned and really proud of him! He started the first part of September. His first day of swimming he really tried and swam 4 lengths of the pool. He was kinda bummed about it but, I told him keep trying you'll get there. After the third week he was swimming 18 lengths without stopping!! Go Phelps!! Didn't know I had a fish!! So I was taking him to swim again and he leans over to me and says "Mom, do you think that I look good in these?" Refering to his knee-length speedo trunks. "Sure! Chandler Why?" "Because, I do and most kids can't pull these off!" "Oh!" Was all I could say and that was the end of it. I had to do some serious driving to keep from laughing! He's 9!! Serious?! That was just funny to me!! Please tell... do other kids think of random things like this?? Do share I love them!! Love ya Chandler!! Keep up the hard work!

Kaylie's Blessing

What a great looking family huh!! This is my brother Gabe and his wife Emily's family. It was a great weekend for a blessing and the weather was just perfect! Thanks guys for a great time! Love ya!

Oh, Payton!!

This girl cracks me up!! The whole hike, we would all take a breather to catch our breaths but NOT Payton!! She would stop to apply another coat of lip gloss!! I think it doubled as insect repelent!! She was the only person on the hike that was decked out in accessories and all dolled up! Gotta love it! Thanks Payton for ALWAYS making our days great!

Utah here we Come!

This view was worth the 6730 ft. climb!!
Handsome Kenton!!

Miss Pay!*

Poor Carson, the caves were so cold his nose ran and froze!! I know gross but, funny!!

Lions, and Tigers... nope just COLD!!

My Brother always the nut! That's why I love him!! He looks the same from HS too?! Who does that?! Turkey!

Kenton and Carson knew how to hike this mountain and take in the views!! :0)

Don't you just love how Payton is dressed for the hike?? She cracks me up!

My Brother Gabe blessed his adorable daughter Kaylie over Labor Day weekend so we drove up for the event! Minus the 24 hours in the Suburban, road construction, and the forever question "Are we there yet?" It was a great time! It was so much fun to watch all the cousins play together! They all got along so well it was great! We went on a hike that Gabe had planned to Timpanogas Caves! They were awesome! Connor and Chandler thought they were really cool and the whole Science factor was totally worth it. Poor little Carson's legs were so tired! It was a long walk for him. He caught a ride some of the time but, overall he did great!

Just Chillin with the Cousins!!!

These are some photo's of all the "Power" side cousins!! 8 kids 11 and under!! Can you say FUN!! Emily's brother went through the Temple and we got to spend the morning chasing bugs and cousins!! It was a BLAST!! Even more the kids LOVED it!!

Loss of Family...

Keith Martin Shumway


This morning I received a call from my mom that I had lost a cousin to a airplane crash last night. It seems like forever since I've seen this cousin. Probably 15 years? Rather sad. He has the coolest family. It bothers me the most to read so much about him from the words that so many had to say about him and some things I didn't get a chance to experience for myself. I'm snagging this off my cousins blog so you get to see what an amazing young 26 year old he was and is.

I'm so grateful for Forever Families!

To read and learn more go here http://cedarcondolences.blogspot.com/

Porter's Birthday!

My Dad, Jill, Katie, and David came over for cake and ice cream! This was the one picture I got!! Great job huh! I know, slowly I'm getting used to taking LOTS of pictures!! We LOVE having family over! Thanks for coming!

Porter's 5!!

Porter turns 5 today!!! I can't believe it! Porter you are an amazing boy with SO much energy and determination. You can be a firecracker and a loving and nurtering boy. You can always tell when I need a hug or a kiss and I love that about you! Thanks for picking me to be your mom! I love you little man! Keep being you! You are AMAZING!

Olympic FHE

Well, with the Olympics this year I thought it would be really fun to do our own version of them for Family Home Evening. Especially since we practically have our own team of everything and somethings! Opening Ceremonies were 8-8-08, Friday night and the kids really loved wathing them as much as I did. Seeing all the fun costumes, dances and performances really was fun. So, I called our cousins and we planned to do our own events for Monday night at the park. It was alot of fun! We played kick ball, jump rope contests, water balloon toss, dart guns, monkey bars, 50 yd. dash, and just a lot of fun. Everybody won a gold medal and a brownie and a rootbeer float!! It was awesome! Thank Jared and Becky for a GREAT night!

First Day of School...

Connor is in 6th Grade! I won't stand next to him. Yes, he's nearly my height! Chandler is in 4th, Jaeden is in 2nd. *It must be the Perkins height... she has two shorty's for parents! Payton's in 1st and Porter is in Kindergarten! I know, no individual photos of the BIG kids. After "group" shots the were saying let's go all ready!! Boy's wanting to socialize? Weird! Can't complain at least they weren't going to be late!

First Day of School...

Today was the first day of school for FIVE of my kids! FIVE?! Crazy I know! After I dropped them all off, I asked Carson what he wanted to do today. He said have a picnic, read stories and take a nap!! Great thinking kiddo!! Maybe this one kid at home wouldn't be so bad after all!

Phone Issues!

Okay, for those of you who don't know my Payton, she is addicted to the phone. Yes, I said the phone and I know she is six! Scary actually! Well today I called home and she answered it she knew it was me so I asked her if I could talk to dad. She replied, "Um, I'll have to have him call you back cuz I'm talking on the other line". I love you mom and click... Yes, my daughter hung up on me!! When I asked her why she said "Well, I was talking to BROOKLYN"! Like, hello is there really a need to explain?!

I admit it's taking some getting used to but I LOVE having such a *girly* girl for a daughter! She is so good for her tom-boy of a mom! Thanks for the laugh today Pay! I love you!!

I guess it all that pretend phone I used to do when she was little. I used to take her foot and "rotary" style dial numbers on the bottom of her foot, then run my fingers top to bottom of her foot to tickle it while it *rang*. Then finally talk on my *PAY PHONE*. Payton would laugh the whole time. She amazed me at how much she enjoyed something so silly. Every once in awhile she'll ask me if I'll talk on the *pay phone*. I love it!! :0)

Happy Birthday!

Today is also my Aunt Barbara's birthday! What a cool day huh? Thanks Gabe... no one will ever top that gift! Showoff!!

We love you Aunt Barbara!! Hope your day was wonderful!

Kaylie Jane is here!

This is her big brothers Kenton and Ty! (L to R)

Kaylie Jane is here! This is my new neice! Isn't she adorable!! I don't think that her brothers like her a bit either!! July 22nd 4:27 pm 6lb. 14 oz.!!! Congrats to you Gabe and Emily!! We love you tons! Great looking kiddos! Ty it's your job dude to kiss her lots until I can see her!! Kenton hug her tons for me too!!

Katie's Letter!

Anyone who can tell me how to upload a file from a pdf file please help me!!

Thanks!

Because Nice Matters 2!!

Okay, so I've been trying to teach my kids just to do things "Because Nice Matters!" Not too soon does this beautiful smiling face do the job! Sunday she comes to Sunbeams (the best class of all!) and brings me a letter! I wish I wasn't having trouble loading it... I'll post it soon! It's the best letter I've ever received.. (sorry babe!) It says.. and I'm not changing anything.

Dear Sister Jackson,
I love you so much. Thank you for all the treats and stuff. Thank you for all the suckers. Thank you for our new class we switched to. You're the beatifulest and I love you so much and much. Thank you for being a nice teacher. I'll draw a picture for you. And thank you for learning about Jesus and scriptures. I will invite you to my birthday. Thank you for switching classes.

Love,
Katie

Is this not the sweetest letter ever!!?? My point exactly to my kiddos! Katie wrote this "just beacuse nice matters!" Your timing is perfect Katie and you are such a JOY to have in class!
I love you Katie! Thanks for being a great example!

Lessons on Nice!

Okay.. so I've been really working with my kids lately on being NICE! Don't know if it's just my house or what but, this year seems extra cranky! So, I've been trying to have my kids do things "just because" and see if it doesn't make them happier. Sometimes you just do things for no reason and for nothing in return! Ya know, like serving your fellow man!? It's a work in progress but, I think it's catching on. Hopefully... If I'm bald at church you'll know it's no longer working and I've pulled out all my hair!! :0)

Because Nice Matters!

Payton's Kindergarten friend has been out of town for FIVE whole days!! Can you imagine the misery??!! It's been countdown till Brooklyn gets home just like for Christmas!!!

We posted it on her garage this evening and within two hours the phone rang and she was back!!! The color was back in Payton face, and the spring in her step had returned!!! Forty-five, yes 45 minutes later their webkinz had reacquainted, "rock, paper, scissors," had rematched with a COMPLETE rundown of the last FIVE days occurred. Oh yeah, and at warp speed!! I could barely keep up with my half of the conversation. Did the other half exist?? Do GIRLY, GIRLS breathe with gills when they talk on the phone?? I nearly passed out!! I'm so glad they LOVE each other though! It's really cute!

If you zoom in on the picture you can see that the center of the flowers had glitter on them!! Like for DUH!! That was added after her original response was.. "Yeah it looks okay, but it really could use a little something more!!??" followed by "I know you're trying Mom, thanks"!!! (pat, pat, on the back)!!

Now, here's the question. Am I supposed to laugh? Or, more likely start to feel bad for myself because my SIX year old realizes my complete lack of artistic abilities but will "BLING" a flower!!?? I didn't think it was all so bad... those were handmade, Smurfette flowers... maybe??!! Can't you see it?? Help me now for my future in 10 years!!!

He's Engaged!!

My cousin Adam is officially Engaged now!! So cool! He and Krista met, dated, he served a Mission to France... he came home. Everything was great then, she decided to follow Adam's footsteps and serve a mission too!! Yes, it must be true love... Adam waited!! Boy talk about a test of love and patience! Well, Adam brought her over to met the family this weekend with all his family too!! It was so awesome! Krista is so cool! The girls feel in love with her, and she played "Ring around the rosies" and "Red Rover" with the kiddos! Of course, so did Uncle Pepper!! They just seem to be the perfect couple! I'm so happy for them! I believe bells will be ringing in mid November! Hopefully a trip to CA will be in the future! Welcome to the family Krista we love ya!!