Hepworth Family

Time seems to pass by so quickly. My goal is to write in my journal every week but right now it seems like once a month. In the middle of October Spencer and Austin finished playing football for the year. Spencer grew to really love football and Austin not so much. Spencer's team came in first place and Austin's came in third. I wasn't able to go to Austin's last game since Tyler had just recently come home from the hospital. Ethan turned 5 on the 13th of October. He asks all of the time when he gets to go to kindergarten. I have to keep telling him that it will be awhile still. He is such a cute fun little boy. I love having him as part of our family! My sister Leslie was so kind and came up and helped me with the kids during the school carnival that we have. I don't know how I could have managed all of the kids without her. She also brought haunted houses for the kids to decorate. They love doing this every year with her. She makes a lot neater houses th...

Last Sunday the RS Presidency had to speak in church. I was hoping that it wouldn't include me since I'm just the secretary but it was including me. The topic I chose to speak on was Finding Nobility in Motherhood and Joy in Womanhood from the Relief Society Declaration. My BIL Shawn and my SIL Lindsey came to our sacrament meeting and I was glad because I need help with the kids (Tyler hasn't made it back to sacrament meeting yet, but he will since he gets to speak on the 14th). Before Sacrament meeting started I saw Spencer hanging out with one of his friends in the foyer. I told him he needed to come and sit down with the rest of the kids. For one thing I could have used his help since I was sitting on the stand. For another thing I told him he couldn't sit by this friend anymore during sacrament meeting because he isn't reverent when they sit together. As the meeting started I looked all around the chapel for my oldest son and I couldn't see him anywh...

On Thursday September 30th in the afternoon Tyler went to check the water on the field. Two pivots had gotten stuck together (pivots are giant sprinklers that go in a circle around the fields they are 15-20 feet tall). Tyler climbed up on the end of one pivot and had his dad go and move the other one. He didn't realize that there was tension on the one he was on, so when his dad moved the pivot the one he was on snapped like a rubber band and flipped him off. He fell 15 feet and landed on his back. He was in a tremendous amount of pain. Tyler's dad was on the phone with Tyler when it happened. When Tyler fell he tried to call him back to see if everything was okay. When Tyler didn't answer the phone he knew something was wrong. His dad came and found him. He asked Tyler what he wanted to do and Tyler said "Help me up on my 4 wheeler so I can drive myself home." It took Tyler a long time to drive himself home because he could feel every bump on the gravel road. Tyl...

This past weekend I went down to Utah to run the dirty dash with my mom, Leslie, Bridget, and Christine's husband Dan. I was a little bit apprehensive to run since I know it is harder to run in mud. I knew it wouldn't be a PR or anything but I decided to run just for the fun of it. The run had a series of obstacles along the way as well as a bunch of different mud pits. One of the obstacles was really big hay bales that you would have to jump over......well let me tell you being almost 19 weeks pregnant messes with my coordination I had to go around the hay bales. The next obstacle was walls that you would have to climb over. I had a terrible time hoisting myself over the first one and went around the rest...lol. One really fun obstacle towards the end is a giant slip and slide. I didn't really want to slide on my stomach so I slid on my butt but I didn't go very far. I then had to run part of the way down the slip and slide until I got where it was slippery ag...

In July we went to a place called Warm Springs Resort with my family. Tyler was unable to come but we all had such a fun time with my family. I wish I lived close enough to visit them more often. Here is a picture of Brig at the cabin. I can't remember if this was his first or second cast :) At the Warm Springs Resort they had paddle boats and kayaks that we could use at the pond. I was amazed that Hailey was able to climb in one and travel all over. She just seemed so natural. In August Spencer received his Arrow of Light from scouts. I was proud of him and YES I definitely earned the pin too! This is just before he goes under the bridge of neckerchiefs. Another thing that happened in August was a double rainbow! We thought it was so amazing. The kids really thought it was neat. The end of August was also the beginning of school. I actually kind of miss my slaves...lol. Now I don't have my kids to boss around to help with the housework. This year they actually wer...

On Wednesday Spencer turned 11! He is such a sweet and considerate boy and I love him so much. I love how thoughtful he is. When he knows that I don't feel well or I am tired he will tell me to sit down and he'll help me with whatever cleaning I need to do. He loves to help me prepare dinner and always gives me good suggestions for meals. We decided to invite Grandma and Grandpa Hepworth over for cake and ice cream in the afternoon since Spencer had scouts that night. They came over after lunch and we sang to Spencer and he blew out his candles. Brig was standing next to me on a bar stool as I began to dish up the cake to pass out. Grandma was helping with the ice cream. I just got the birthday boy his piece of cake and was going to get one for Brig. As I turned to hand it to him the bar stool slid and he fell off. I tried to catch him but I wasn't quick enough. When I picked him up he was holding his arm and I looked at it. I could see that it was broken. He s...

As I've struggled with the sad feeling I've felt with Dave passing on, I have realized a few things. Last night as I thought of my sweet nieces and nephew I felt so sad for them. Fathers day is in a couple of days and I know they will be missing their dad. I think when someone looses their life at a younger age we tend to say things like "I guess the Lord must have needed them for something on the other side." There have been a few times that I have thought about my brother dying of his addiction. As I worried about him I have struggled to find comfort in the thought of someone dying as a result of their addiction. I felt like you couldn't really say that the Lord needed them because the addiction was the cause. As I mentioned this to my sister Leslie today on the phone she helped me to see something more spiritual. Maybe the Lord realized how much Dave was suffering and decided it was enough. I know that the Lord is merciful to us. In John 11:35 it Says...

Yesterday as I was running on my treadmill I heard the phone ring. I don't usually get off to answer it but I was feeling kind of tired. I headed upstairs and Spencer handed me the phone. It was my mom, she sounded like she had a cold or something was wrong. I asked her if she had a cold and she said "no, I just called to let you know that Dave was found dead this morning." Dave was my sister Carrie's first husband, and the father of Heidi, Erin, Josh, and Emily(my nieces, and nephew). I feel so sad for them. I really think that Dave realized his life wasn't a happy one but didn't know how to change it and so he drank it away. I remember a lot of funny things about Dave when he and Carrie were first married. I didn't know Dave as an alcoholic so all I have are the memories of how he was. I pray for his family to find comfort and I'm glad that they have Aldo in their lives. The last month of school just seemed to fly by! Spencer was given an...

If you know me very well, you know that I'm kind of anti-Soda ( I don't buy it unless someone has the flu, but if we are somewhere that it is being served I don't stop them from drinking it) and I'm definitely anti-caffeinated Soda. If you want to drink it that is fine, but I'm not going to and I don't really let my kids drink soda often and almost never caffeinated. The other day I picked Spencer up for an orthodontist appointment from school. When we got home he pulled out a full bottle of Dr. Pepper. He said one of his friends at school had brought it and when he went to open it soda squirted on him. He decided that he didn't want it and gave it to Spencer. Spencer knows how I feel about drinks with caffeine in them so He brought it home and asked me if he could have it. I told him he could. I actually felt proud that he would come home and ask me. He could have gone the sneaky route and just drank it at school but he did the right thing. Spenc...

On the 9th of April Tyler and I were able to drive down to Salt Lake to see Jemma get married in the Salt Lake Temple. Tyler's mom met us in Salt Lake and took Brig and Ethan back to her house. It helped me so much for her to come and get the kids. Tyler took a picture of Jan (Jemma's Aunt) and I sitting at the temple waiting for pictures to be done. He actually took a few that turned out. I was surprised because I'm not photogenic. At the beginning of the week Brig got into one of the drawers in the master bathroom and flushed most of a box of q-tips. I thought for sure we were going to have to take the toilet off. Just a couple of weeks ago Brig flushed an alligator toy and a small care bear figurine in Hailey's bathroom and we had to take the toilet off. Of course it was Saturday night and I had to go to Walmart and 10PM for a bowl wax. I think we were finished by 11:30 though :) On Wednesday Ethan thought it would be a good idea to get into the food colori...

Last week I noticed that our cat was going to have kittens soon. She looked so big. Every day I would go out to the shop to check on her. I told Hailey that our cat was going to have kittens and she paused for a moment and said "I didn't know cats could get married." LOL...yes she know how babies are made but I told her it is best to wait until you are married. She is such a sweet innocent little girl. I love her so much. Our cat finally had her kittens yesterday. It was kind of exciting. Austin was the most fascinated. He stood out there and watched just after the last one was born. Tyler noticed when the cat was having kittens because they went to get the service truck out of the shop and the cat was having her kittens on the seat...lol. He moved her to a box with some clean rags. She really is a good mama cat. She seems to like all of the attention and petting that she is getting. She also didn't seem to mind when I held her kittens. Another thing i...

Yesterday was Hailey's birthday. My little girl is growing up. She told me she will always be my little girl though. I am so glad that she is a part of our family. I couldn't have asked for a nicer little girl :) It was a busy day. I ended up buying a small cake for her because I am making brownies for her birthday party which we are having today. Spencer is a really nice brother. He went down to his room when he got home from school and got $10 and gave it to Hailey for her Birthday. He is always so thoughtful about giving gifts. This week has been a rough one for me and a few times I've cried because of Austin. Spencer is so sweet and helpful to me and he is so protective when Austin makes me feel bad. I am so thankful for him. Yesterday evening it was the Scout's Blue and Gold banquet. I had to make rolls and cookies for the dinner. It was an interesting evening. They had this plastic post filled with candy and miscellaneous items and had everyone guess h...

This month just flew by and I need to take the time to update it. At the Beginning of the month Tyler and I went to Florida for a week with his dad and Jodi. We had a lot of fun and it was a good break from the kids, but I really missed them and felt like a week away was a little bit too long. Here is a picture of me at Epcot. Since we bought a new digital camera to replace our other one Tyler has turned into someone who takes "artistic" photos and it was like pulling teeth to get him to take one of me or one of us together..lol. We went on an air boat ride one day. Here is a picture of one of the air boats. The guy that drove ours chain smoked for our entire 1 1/2 hour ride. Unfortunately I sat right behind him breathing it all in. I didn't think it would be possible to drive an air boat and smoke at the same time, but this guy figured it out. We had to wear those headphones because it was really loud. We actually got to see alligators in the wild. Our boat guid...

There is a girl in the 6th grade that Spencer has had a crush on for awhile. He is in the 5th grade. A few weeks ago he found out what her favorite candy was and bought it and a giant chocolate kiss with his allowance. He is planning to sneak in her class room during recess and put it on her desk. He is the kind of boy I always dreamed about when I was a little girl. I always wished a secret admirer would leave me something. I hope if the little girl finds out she is nice to him.

This past week we have been on a vacation to Florida, without kids :). We stayed in a Sheraton Resort. It was decorated really beautiful. Tyler's Dad and Jodi took the Master bedroom and we got the other room. It was a nice room with 2 full size beds. We decided to sleep separately because we like to stretch out. One of the first days we were there I looked into the bedroom we slept in while we were eating breakfast and smugly remarked that I had gotten my bed made and Tyler hadn't. He didn't seem annoyed, and said good job. Another morning I hadn't gotten my bed made and as I sat down to eat breakfast I looked into the bedroom and saw that my bed was made. Tyler had made my bed for me, and he didn't announce it or even say anything. He is such a sweet, and caring husband and I'm so glad to have him as mine!

This week has been a week of sickness. I started it off with one of the worst UTI's I've had. Tyler went late Monday night to the store for me to get some more pain relief even thought he didn't feel good. We didn't know it at the time but Tyler had strep throat. He was so sick he was in bed most of the week. Brig ended the week with strep throat. I have had a lot of time to ponder things this week as I laid around and awake. Whenever I'm sick it makes me so grateful for when I'm not. I am so thankful that I am healthy most of the time. It made me so grateful for my sweet kids. Spencer knew that I wasn't feeling good and I was getting up to clean and he insisted that I sit down and he cleaned for me. Spencer is such a great son. I feel so blessed to be his mother. Austin has been quite a challenge this week. Whenever he doesn't get his way it turns into a tantrum. I love Austin so much and I wish I knew the right things to do to help him....

On Friday the 8th of January Brig turned 2 years old. I can't believe that my baby is that big. I was worried that we wouldn't have a camera to take pics on his birthday but fortunately we were able to get another one. Here Brig is at the hospital...notice how chubby his little legs are. They are still chubby in a cute way :) Here he is blowing out the candles on his cake. I had to lite them twice because he kept blowing them out. His shirt is dirty because I let him lick the bowl that had cake batter in it. Here Brig is enjoying his cake and ice cream. I'm so thankful that Brig is a part of our family! For one of our family night activities we made journals. They are to help our kids recognize Our Heavenly Father's hand in our lives. Also it is a gratitude journal so that they can think of things that they are thankful for. In Hailey's journal she came up with all sorts of things that she was thankful for and the very last thing that she wrote was "I...

On the 28th of December we left for Seattle. My BIL Trevor was getting married. We were all excited to go and planned to stay a few extra days to see some of the sights. On the 30th Trevor was married and Shawn (another BIL) took a really nice pic of the fam at the temple with our digital camera. I also captured a few really adorable shots of Brig. Our kids were so well behaved on the trip that wherever we went we were complimented on them. This definitely made me feel pretty good. On the 31st we went to the Space Needle and Pacific Science center. I am extremely afraid of heights and decided not to pay to be tortured so I stayed on the ground with Brig while Tyler and the rest of the kids went up to the top. I took a few pics of the Space needle before we went in and when we came out I was really glad I had because it had started raining and it would have been hard to get a pic in the rain. On the 1st (New Years Day) we decided to take our kids out to Ocean Shore to see the...