30 Day Challenge - DAY 16

DAY 16 - Post another picture of yourself

Like I posted before, I usually prefer to be BEHIND the camera, vs in front of it. This was our 1st day of vacation. We surprised the kids by stopping for a lunch visit with our ORCA friends. I had been asked to take kiddo picts for one of the families. When we were all done and ready to go in for lunch, Preston stole the camera from me and took these. Normally I really DONT like picts of myself. I was really happy with these. I had fun doing some tweaking too. I really love the way the bottom image turned out with the B&W and color tweaks - one of my fave thing to do with images - was kind of fun to do it with picts of me.

30 Day Challenge - DAY 15

DAY 15 - Put your IPOD on shuffle, and post the 1st 10 songs

Again, another no-go - I dont even OWN an IPOD. I know some people would say "WHAT?" but our family isnt really into having to have all the techy stuff. We have the things that we need to help, but that is about it....(not sure I even really know what an IPOD is..)

30 Day Challenge - DAY 14

DAY 14 - Post a picture of you and your family

I tried to take the opportunity to take as many picts of the kids and our family during our vacation as I could. This 1st one is on our 1st play day.
I have to explain this one. I have MANY picts of Kels with this face - not sure where she even picked it up. She just did it one day and we were all so hysterical that she kept doing it - and at the most unusual times. It got to be kind of a joke - I would turn around to take a pict and the little peeps would be pulling this face. This was Thanksgiving day at Disneyland and a man there was kind enough to take our family picts. We just had to do one of all of us with this face. A memory that will last forever.
This was one of the better picts of our family during vacation. We had such a wonderful day together and I think this pict really shows that.

30 Day Challenge - DAY 13

DAY 13 - Write a letter to someone who has recently hurt you...

Not going through with this one. Even though I can think of several people I could write to, this is not the place to do it

30 Day Challenge - DAY 12

DAY 12 - Post about how you found out about Blogger and why you have a blog.

I had been hunting for a new, fun way to journal with writing and images. Several friends already had blogs and I was interested - until I found out how challenging it was to wade through the techy stuff to get it set up. That totally put me off for a really long time - until a sweet friend took pity on me and let me come over to her house and helped me get it all set up.

I havent looked back since. This blog (and my work one) is the way for us to keep a continual, up to date (usually) family and personal journal. Since I started this blog I have journaled more for myself and our family than I have in my entire life. It is esp important for me to have journal entries and images to go with them. The kids love looking through our scrap books and reading all the pages we have printed. It is a way for them to remember the things we have done. It is a way to write down the good, the bad, and the ugly at times. I used to really look forward to comments made from others, but now I am not sure that even a small handful of people even looks at our blog anymore. It doesnt really matter if they do or not - this is our family journal - for us, by us, about us. It is for us to remember, for the kids to be able to have for the future, for their own families. Hopefully someday I will get back to scrapping to keep up with the journaling too. It has been really great for me to keep this going, and hope to do so more consistently in the future.

30 Day Challenge - DAY 11

DAY 11 - Post another pict of you and your friends

This is a pict of me and my 2 closest, dearest friends here in OR. This pict was taken just shortly before M and her family moved far away to UT. I dont know what I would ever do without these 2 wonderful friends, who have become my sisters and their families are our family. We have been through so much together, laughter and tears, struggles and joys, just sharing our lives and our families has been a true blessing to me and to our family.

30 Day Challenge - DAY 10

DAY 10 - Post songs that you listen to when you are happy, sad, mad, etc

I am not sure what to post here. I don't just listen to music much anymore. Often when I am working on the computer I sometimes listen to Ceana's fave list on grooveshark.com. We have all contributed to her list and it is fun to sing along with all the music that spans the ages.
On happy days the kids and I also like to throw on a combo of all of our Celtic music CD's. The kids have grown to love Celtic music as much as I do and I often find the little peeps in the TV room hallway dancing to the fun and lively music.
December and holiday music means our annual Baxter family "Name That Christmas Tune" game. Whenever Christmas music comes on, the girls and I "compete" to see how quickly we can name the song and/or artist ( I am still the reigning champion naming songs in just a few notes) The girls are getting pretty good though. It will be more fun now that they are older and more aware of music this year.

When I am stressed or sad, or struggling with things I turn on my most fave music in the whole world - Pachabel's Cannon in D. I have several CD's that I listen to that help me to be calm and to just re-group a bit. My fave CD also has ocean waves and sounds in the background with the music. I also love December because there is a fairly recent Christmas song done by the Vienna Boys' Choir that has incorporated Pachabel's Cannon into it. It cheers me when I hear it on the radio, esp if it has been a rough day.

30 Day Challenge - DAY 9

DAY 9 - Post something you are proud of from the last few days.

I think there have been a couple of things.

1- Being able to really pull off the surprise visit with ORCA friends at the beginning of vacation, and seeing how excited the kids were to see each other. It was SO hard to keep things quiet and to keep our visit a surprise. It totally paid off though, when I saw Ceana's face (and heard about the other kids' reactions) when she realized where we were, esp after she had been so sad thinking we were going to be so close and maybe not stop. It was wonderful to spend that special time with friends who have become so very dear to us.

2- We spent a glorious, wonderful Thanksgiving day at Disneyland with just our little family. Preston's dad became very ill Wed night, and we were very sad to not have his parents with us. We did our best to enjoy our day and we couldnt have wished for a more perfect time. The weather was clear and warm (after being cold and rainy), the expected gazillion people never showed up (there were lots, but small compared to guesstimates), we never waited more than 30 minutes for anything (we LOVE Fast Passes), we got to share a monster turkey drumstick and corn on the cob as a family (after eating chili cheese fries, chkn nuggets, fish, and YUMMY choc cake for our main meal) to celebrate a piece of the big day's traditional meal, we got to enjoy 3 amazing shows (fireworks, Fantasmic, and holiday music hill billy style), we utilized 2 strollers for the kids to nap during the day, the kids were really great and well behaved (vs severe meltdowns, esp from Colton each day), we got to meet and greet several Disney characters (Caiden counted 52 that we had seen by the end of the day, and 6 we got to meet personally), and so many more wonderful things! I was just so happy and proud of all of us for making the day an extra special one, even when we all were sad and worried about Preston's dad. We are happy that he is better now and that they arrived safely home this afternoon.

30 Day Challenge - DAY 8

DAY 8 - Post short term goals for this month and why:

I think that my 3 biggest short term goals will be to....

1 - Get all the vacation laundry done as quickly after arriving home as possible. Hoping to get everything all put away this next week.
2- Get kids working on, and caught up on all homework assignments. I am pretty sure we will be spending ALL of our Winter break doing homework after being away for the last 2 weeks
3- Try to get all of our vacation images sorted and cleaned up to be scrapped and posted

Vacations are so wonderful, but they also present many big challenges with our family being so big now.
Laundry seems to be a constant in our lives, and it becomes a monster job after a vacation. I will have extra loads since we have needed to wear lots of layers every day. We are supposed to get totally rained out tomorrow (100% chance of rain) so IF we are able to get to our last big activity (6 Flags) I will also be bringing home wet clothing.
Preston has tried to have the kids rotate to the front seat to work on homework with him during our long drives. This proved to be detrimental to Kaeli as she got severe motion sickness our first morning on the road. Our schedule has been really intense and we have played hard, and done very little homework. It will mean extra long days for the next 2 months, and probably very little social time until we make sure the kids are completely caught up. The term ends the last week of January, so we have to have everything completed by then.
Taking time for an extra long vacation jam-packed with fun, fun, fun, has meant TONS of picts. I was able to do some fun vacation shoots for the kids and we have tried to get family picts everywhere there was an opportunity to do so. It means I have lots of work ahead of me to get them all sorted and cleaned up though. I am hoping to work on a couple different projects as well as get them scrapped for the kids and get them posted here for our family journal. Lots to do and take on, and not quite sure where I will fit it in working around kids and house and such. May just have to do one tiny piece at a time and maybe just do a fun post when I can find a quiet moment each day.

30 Day Challenge - DAY 6 AND 7

DAY 6 - Post about your favorite super hero and why he/she is your favorite.
DAY 7 - Post about someone/something who has had the biggest impact on you

I have been trying to think about who I would post about. There are so many people who I think are heroes and who I think are super heroes (and not the comic book kind) There are also many people who have made huge impacts on me and in my life.

My ultimate super hero would be my husband. He has made a huge impact on me for more than half of my whole life. We have known each other since we were 15 yrs old. In all these years, he continues to amaze me with his talents, friendship, love and willingness to give all of himself and his whole heart into anything and everything that he does, including and formost in loving me.
I admire him, and continue to be in awe of everything he does and the wonderful man he is. Maybe someday, when I grow up, I can learn to be like him. I know that I am truly blessed because he is in my life.




He is my hero because he serves in so many different capacities. He serves in his unit, traveling often to support all of those soldiers who are deployed or arriving back home. He serves as part of the command staff, and as a platoon sargeant, and as the drum major, and the lead in the unit's brass quintet. He serves in our bishopbric as the bishop's executive secretary, and the ward website specialist, and the ward bulletin specialist, and whatever else bishop might need. He serves in our community as an assistant CERT team lead (done being full team lead after serving for several years). He is trying to serve in our school district by applying for an open school board position. He serves at work as an employee, a project manager, and has also served on the ADCOM group that plans family and employee social activities. He serves our family by working so hard to provide for our needs and wants. He supports the kids in all of their activities and music. He works miracles in our home by doing house jobs in hours, when i cant get to them for days or weeks. He stays up all night on vacation to do monster loads of laundry just to surprise me the next morning. He patiently sits in the front seat as he teaches Ceana to drive and lets her drive just about anywhere and everywhere (including heavy traffic in LA) and is always calm as he gives instructions and lessons. He runs extra errands when he knows i cant get to them, just to help me. He supports all my dreams and hopes for my photography and is willing to help with whatever I might ask.
He is my hero because he loves our children. He is the one the girls go to for extra hugs, long talks, crashing on the couch to watch movies, joking around until they are hysterical, comforting them when they are emotional and hysterical in a not so fun way, for playing games, and for help with homework. He is the one the boys and Kels go to for reading books, and tickle-fests, and being tucked in bed. He is more than a father, he is a daddy.

30 Day Challenge - DAY 5

DAY 5 - Post a Picture of Somewhere You Have Been To -

We are enjoying our family vacation so much. Somewhere that we visited yesterday that I have never been before was to the USS Midway in San Diego. It is a MASSIVE WW II aircraft carrier. It was amazing to tour the ship and listen to the stories of the soldiers who served on this ship during many wars. It was a great experience.

30 Day Challenge - DAY 4

DAY 4 - Post about a habit you wish you didnt have...

I have actually been thinking about this one alot lately - esp with our life in a constant frenzy.

When I am nervous, or anxious or upset I chew my nails horribly. Right down to the quik and usually include the cuticles, which end up torn and bleeding. My hands are a mess right now as we are getting ready for vacation and all that goes with it. Also as we are preparing to leave poochies behind for awhile. We have not left them this long before...I know they will be well cared for, but still I worry that they will be ok being alone for so long.

I am hoping that once we are on the road that things will calm down a bit. Just so much on my mind, it is hard to not take it out on my hands...

30 Day Challenge - DAY 3

DAY 3 - Post a picture of you with your friends

I got looking through all of my picts and I found that I am usually behind the camera vs in front of it. I know I posted this pict already, but it is one of the most recent ones of me with friends. I know that Kirsten took this pict, but I can't remember her doing it. We were walking to or from the Lloyd Center where we were enjoying a fabulous weekend at TOFW. Pictured L-R:
Heidi, Sandra, me, Holly, Kathleen, Natalie

30 Day Challenge - DAY 2

Day 2 - Explain the meaning behind your blog name:

With 6 kiddos (yes, that's right I said SIX, ages 2,4, 7, 10, 13 & almost 16), 2 spazzy dogs and canibal fish, our house is a daily circus. We needed something fun that would truly express our daily life.

There are 8 of us now, we are complete, unless Heavenly Father tells us otherwise.We are constantly doing a juggling act of keeping a schedule and balance in life with all the craziness of dr and specialist appts, errands, school at home, military, work, church callings, etc. We find ourselves trying to keep each adventure, and mis-adventure, in some kind of organized chaos.

I do not do it alone - the girls and Preston are helping me keep many circles going all at the same time. They are the ones that allow me see to and try to find answers to Colton's and my own health needs, keep little kiddos fed and clothed (even if that means diapers and shoes, and PBJ tortillas AGAIN), keep the the couch stacked with piles of clean clothes (hey, it could be piles of dirty clothes..), along with trying to accomplish daily school assignments amid little people running and screaming through the house, and trying to find time to spend with friends, or just a moment of peace and quiet to themselves.
I am also still learning, and trying to remember every day that Heavenly Father is watching over our circles and all of our chaos, and that He is the ultimate "ring leader". It has been a long journey of learning on my part, I often try to run the whole circus by myself. I have to sometimes be compelled to sit back and watch, or let go of all the distractions that keep me from seeing or remembering that I am just a "roustabout" and here to take directions from Heavenly Father to keep things running smoothly from day to day. It is a life-long learning process.

Often our balancing act is on the verge of toppling over, other days we keep many circles and adventures running smoothly. Together we are trying to the best we can each day, taking just one day (or even 1 hour) at a time. Our circus, though often chaotic and crazy, is our family adventure. Together we are learning to balance each act and adventure as it comes. Together we are battling life's lions, keeping all the plates spinning, keeping each other safe and supported when flying or falling, and watching for all the little moments to clown around. We are trying to remember to dance to the music of life and enjoy the journey. Life is a circus, but what a wonderful show it is!

30 Day Challenge - DAY 1

Day 1 - Post a recent picture and 15 interesting facts of yourself:

1 - I have very vivid REM sleep, and dream in color
2- My pet peeve when driving is when people pull out right in front of me, when there are no other cars in sight
3- I miss taking ASL classes and using it all the time like we did when Colton was tiny
4- I LOVE being behind a camera, but not in front of it
5- Sometimes when I dream at night, I can fly, sing beautifully, and ice skate like an Olympian - ahh, maybe someday...
6- My body is often a medical mystery...
7- I like to eat Twinkies and Kit Kats only if they are frozen
8-I am TERRIFIED of snakes, can't even look at a pict of them without almost throwing up
9- I am the spider/bug killer at our house
10- I am a visual learner
11- I love the sound of rain and ocean waves
12- I really enjoy trying and eating foreign foods
13- I don't do well with heights
14- I hope that someday I will learn to play the piano and the language of music
15-Because of hereditary genes, if I didnt color my hair, I would have had completely white-gray hair 15+ years ago