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!