Respectful Cloey

Cloey earned a citizenship award at school this week for being "Respectful". She was very excited to go up and receive her award during a school assembly. That same day I earned the “awful mother” award for not remembering the assembly until an hour after it was over.

Jaden earned his Weblos badge

Thanks to Jaden’s AWESOME cub scout leaders Jaden earned his Weblos badge this month. We are very proud of him. Cub Scouts has seemed to fly by and he is excited to join Boy Scouts in the fall.

Girls Retreat (no kids allowed)

Last weekend my grandma and aunt drove down from Salt Lake to join my mom, sisters and me in a Girls Weekend. Our idea of a weekend was Thursday afternoon until Sunday evening. Our retreat was at my mom’s house with no kids or husbands allowed (Jason and my kids stopped by for a minutes one morning to bring us doughnuts which we decided was allowed and very sweet of them.). We stayed up until 4 am most nights and slept in till 10. We crafted and scrapbooked. Ate out and made yummy treats. Laughed and cried and just enjoyed being together. I LOVE my family and especially these guys.


I worked on making these 2 easter baskets for my kids. I still need to make 2 more.

Chuck E. Cheese

Our kid’s school had a fundraiser night at Chuck E. Cheese. We didn’t have anything going on that evening and so we went. We all had fun trying out their new games and the kids thought it was fun to see some of their school friends and teachers there also. Jason and Jaden of course figured out which game would give them the best return on their token and the little tricks on how to play it. I was very amazed with the 1745 tickets they won. Although I am beginning to just expect to be amazed by those two.

Taco Soup

We brought this soup for dinner on our campout, we LOVE it camping but also at home. It is one of those meals that our entire family LOVES. My wonderful friend Noel made it for us on a trip we went on together. Since, we have thrown out our Taco Soup recipe and converted solely to hers. It is THE.BEST.

Noel’s Taco Soup

1 medium onion, diced
1 clove garlic, diced
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
8 oz. tomato sauce
4 oz. chopped green chilies
1 can corn
1 can small red beans
1 can pinto beans
1 can black beans
½ bunch cilantro, chopped
1 pkg. taco seasoning
1 lb. shredded chicken

In a skillet, sauté the onions and garlic.

In a large pot combine the rest of the ingredients. Add the onions and garlic once sautéed. Heat thoroughly.

Serve topped with Fritos, sour cream and shredded cheese.

Overnight Camp-out

The weather has just been gorgeous lately and I have had the itch to go camping. Of course Jason and the kids jumped right on it since it was "mom" who actually was the one wanting to go. We decided on an overnighter to Valley of Fire. We left Sunday after church set up camp, climbed all over the rocks and enjoyed dinner and s'mores around the campfire and of course a lot of singing. That night the kids fell asleep to me and Jason taking turns telling them stories about us when we were their age. We had a lot of laughs and a few sad memories.

The next day we woke up cooked breakfast and did more climbing on the rocks, I think we must have covered quite a few miles on those rocks. We also played catch, frisbee, track ball and had chicken fights on the cement curbing. We also did the Mouse Tank hike. It is a short hike to a natural basin in the rock where water collects after rainfall. It was a hideout in the 1890’s for the Indians. We saw numerous petroglyphs along the way and some foot tracks of a mountain lion and some teeny teeny tiny tracks that must have been from a mouse.

We were only gone 24 hours but we had a GREAT time. I just love the weather this time of year and realize that it doesn’t last long. I am so glad we went!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Creative Girls

I love that my girls are creative and love to do arts and craft projects. I don’t always like the messes that they make while doing there projects but love that they have great imaginations. Jason and his brother took all the kids to the school the other day to play track ball and ride bikes. While the boys were playing ball the girls created this little girl and her puppy out of trash that they found on the school field. The girl is made of soda cans, pinecones, paper, a gift bag, yarn and rocks. They even found a sucker for her hand and a hair bow and flower for her hair and a broken pair of glasses for her eyes. The puppy is made from a coffee bag, pencils, and pinecones. The leash is made from a plastic strip used to tie bundles of newspaper. I thought it was so dang cute and I was very impressed with their creativity.

The pictures are from Jason’s cell phone and are not very great quality. He also took a video that is super cute but we can’t get it off the phone.

Science Fair

For Jaden’s Science Fair Project this year he posed the question “What percentage of an orange is liquid?” It was a very simple and easy project. We weighed an orange, cut it into slices, dehydrated it, weighed it again, and then calculated the percentage of liquid lost. The result was that the orange was made up of 71% liquid.

Silhouettes

A friend of mine has inspired me to get going on some fun projects that I have wanted to do. One of the first things on my list was learning how to make these silhouettes. They are surprisingly easy. My mom gave me these ones for Christmas and I just LOVE them. I think they are so cool and I just wanted to share the idea. Stay tune for some more fun projects...

Private Pilot

A little while ago Jason got to be the pilot for Robert Downey Jr. (you know “Iron man”). He thought Mr. Downey was a really cool guy. He chatted away with Jason and gave him headsets to listen in on the movie that they were filming. Jason said he felt like Hugh Grant in the movie “Notting Hill” where he is sitting on set listening to Julia Roberts film a movie. He thought it was a pretty cool “work” day!

Back on the Blog Wagon

I stole that header from my sister in law. I thought it was very cute!

Where do you even begin to catch up on a blog that has been neglected for 6 months? I am going to try and give it my best shot without being too boring.

Here goes the run down of the last 6 months in the Mohler household:


Jason and I celebrated 11 years of marriage with a trip to Florence, Oregon. We rented a house on a private island. It was really cool but a little scary to think we were the ONLY ones on that island. We had a really fun time crabbing, fishing for crawdads, relaxing and enjoying just each other.

We took a weeklong family trip to Provo, Utah. We love spending time up there in the summer. We are so grateful that Jason’s parents let us stay in their home in Provo. The weather is perfect and there is so much to do. Mindie and her family have joined us the past 2 years and that is becoming a fun tradition. We already have this year’s trip together planned. A highlight for Jason and I is getting to see our good friends the Trapnell’s.

A new school year has begun. Jaden is in 4th grade and loves his teacher Ms. Traverso. Macy is in 1st grade and Mrs. Matel couldn’t be a better teacher for her. The twins are in kindergarten and we decided to put them in separate classes. Troy is in Mrs. Overlands class and Cloey is in Mrs. Bouthillers class. It is a very strange feeling to have all my kids in school. I defiantly find lots of ways to keep myself busy while they are gone and enjoy the alone time but I am usually anxious for them to get home.

This past fall we took another trip to Coral Pink. The Tapnell’s came from Provo and the Maxfiels (our friends from our ward) also joined us. Other family and family friends were there too. The boys rode their dirt bikes and us girls chatted away. Our kids love any chance they get to play in that red sand.

The twins turned 5 in September and Jason and I took JUST THEM to Disneyland for their birthday. They were thrilled to be the only ones going and we had a great time. Later that week we had family over to celebrate. Troy makes me laugh every birthday and Christmas with the things he wants. His birthday wish this year was for a huge jar of pickles.

While we were in California we made a stop to see my friend Debbi (Scott) Pfau and her baby #3. She is a cutie. I love any excuse to stop by. We had a fun visit with a lot of laughs. I miss her and wish we lived closer.

Troy played his first season of soccer this past fall. His favorite part was the treats after each game. He did a great job and we are proud of him.

October was Jaden’s 10th birthday. He had a sleepover with a few cousins (I don’t think they ever went to sleep) and we all went to King Putt. Afterwards Jason took Jaden and his cousin to the real golf course.

Deer hunting is a tradition that October brings for the boys. And a girl’s weekend for the girls. I am not sure what happens on the hunting trip but I am sure that the girl’s weekend is a lot more fun. Mindie and Courtnie spent the weekend at our house. We treated the girls to pedicures and crafts, crafts, crafts. My aunt Annette did glitter toes for min, my mom, and me. That was a real treat. We also spent an evening with Deborah and her girls watching a movie with pizza and lots of treats.

October also brings Halloween! We had a festive week with the school Harvest Festival, The Chesnik’s Halloween party and the ward trunk-or-treat.

Troy received a citizenship award at school for being “Responsible”. Although at times he can be quite the opposite, in school he actually really is a responsible little guy. He is always eager to get his homework done, is the one always reminding me to practice his reading and keeps his backpack and folder neat and in order. His teacher comments that he always try’s hard and does his work very neatly.

Once the snow finally came we hit the mountain for a trip to my dads cabin in Duck Creek. We also celebrated Thanksgiving with him and Deborah while we were there. In our family we have Thanksgiving dinner 3 times. Once with Jason’s family, usually the Sunday before. Once with my dad, and once with my mom.

The day after Thanksgiving brings one of my favorite traditions. The dads and kids in some of the Mohler and Barlow families meet up for a camping trip while the moms finish up Christmas shopping and spend some girl time out to dinner and to the movies. I hope that tradition never ends. (The camera was forgotten this time)

This year we puts Christmas lights on our house for the very first time. This is something that I have wanted to do for years but we just never have. I was so excited I wanted them around the entire house and on the entire roofline. Jason was a good sport to do it for me. I just LOVED it. Jason even commented that Christmas seemed extra exciting this year.

(I know it was the lights)

We also had another Christmas first this year. We decided to get a REAL Christmas tree. We have always had an artificial tree and decided to go real this year. We all loved the smell and will defiantly be doing it again next year.

This winter our family started hiking together. We have all really enjoyed it. It has given us something fun to get out of the house and do together on Saturday afternoons. I have really enjoyed the little moments with each of my kids holding hands while we walk and visit. I love that we are all doing this together, it is helping to get the energy out of the kids, keeping all of us active, and it is exciting to look at how far or how high we have gone. It really has been a good thing for our family.

One morning in December Jason woke up and said “the weather is perfect for a hike today, lets keep the kids home from school and have a family day outside.” So we did. We went on a hike, out to lunch, to the Bellagio to watch the fountains and see the atrium all decked out for Christmas. It was a great day.

Earlier this month we spent a Saturday afternoon shooting at the dry lakebed with some of our family. It was the first time that our girls have been shooting. Cloey being the little dare devil that she is loved it. Macy tried in once and that was good enough for her. I have never watched Jaden shoot before (he usually does that with dad on their boy trips) and I was quite impressed when he hit all 10 of his targets on the first shot.

And last but not least is the Pinewood Derby. This was Jaden’s last pinewood derby. He wanted a car that showed all of the things that he loves to do. So we decided to decorate the car with a filmstrip of pictures of him doing what he loves. He named his car “my car”. He did pretty well in the race. He took 5th place in the group we raced in and 10th overall in the stake.

Family Pictures 2009

Did you know that you could grow popcorn?

I didn't.






I have to say that I was pretty impressed when Jaden grew this. I didn’t think it would work.

23 things we have done in the last 23 weeks

Has it really been 23 whole weeks since I updated my blog? Wow! I am really behind. I guess this will be my lame attempt to update you with the happenings of our past weeks (months)! In no particular order…


1. Jaden finished his football season

2. Cloey had her big dance recital

3. Troy and Cloey graduated preschool

4. Macy graduated Kindergarten and Jaden graduated 3rd grade

5. I was released from 1st counselor in the Young Women and called as the Young Women
president

6. Jason was released from assistant Ward Clerk and called as the Cub Scout Master

7. Jason and the kids grew peas

8. The Wirig’s came to town and we got to have Justin and Marissa for a few days

9. The boys went on the Fathers/Son camp out and the Girls enjoyed girls time

10. Jason got a new toy to shoot pigeons with

11. We went on the Mohler 24th annual Coral Pink trip

12. We have done lots of swimming and barbecuing

13. We took the kids on their 2nd cruise, 8 days up the Pacific Coast and Canada

14. Jaden earned his Bear in Cub Scouts

15. My dad got remarried, and we love her

16. My mom turned 50 and we threw a surprise party. Lots of family came from out of town which was a huge surprise to her

17. Jaden participated in the Cub Scout Rain gutter Regatta

18. We have been having a family summer camp this summer (best idea anyone has ever given me). Some of the things we have done are… Making a piñata and having an unbirthday party after reading Alice in Wonderland. Weekly field trips. Baking/Cooking lots of fun treats like Jell-o pudding pops, decorating little cakes, suckers, homemade ice cream, chocolate dipped strawberries ect, ect, ect

19. We have been doing lots and lots of reading

20. We spent the 4th of July weekend in St. George with John and Jamie Egbert

21. I went to Kolob for a week of girls camp

22. Jason and the kids went to the Worthen Family reunion in Beaver, Utah

23. and I finally updated my blog!

Happy Valentine's Day

Gone Fishing

Troy was invited by my brother Kirk to spend the day fishing on the lake. Troy was really excited to call me and tell me that "he caught a fish" but he was even more excited to tell me about all the candy Kirk had bought him to take fishing. I love that Kirk is sweet enough to let Troy tag along with him.