Sleeping Beauty!

Aleah is wearing her dress we got from Greece this summer. Isn't she a cutie! As you can see, her right eye is open a tad. This is because her superior oblique muscle is weak and she can't close it all the way. She will have to have eye surgery a couple of years from now.

The General Relief Society Broadcast!

In the picture are; Wendy Aposian, Nan Schmalz, Me and Carmie Golightly (in pink) with her mother in black sweater.  The other 2 ladies I do not know but they are friends of Carmie's I believe.

Saturday, September 27th, 2008

I didn't pose on purpose.... she made me do it!!! Cheryl, here is a picture of the blouse I bought for Chantel's wedding in October. Let me know what you think. There were 7 of us ladies that went to the Conference Center to see our Prophet, Thomas S. Monson. It was a really nice Conference. Afterwards, we walked past Temple Square and drove to Bountiful to eat dinner at Costa Vida (a Mexican fresh Grill). It was a fun time, and especially nice to be able to be close to a Prophet and Apostles with ALL those women (thousands).

We're the STAY-AT-HOME kids!

We were having fun with our digital camera's automatic timer...it turned out pretty good being that nobody was taking our picture, huh?

It's Harvest Time...

The boys had fun picking our peaches, as I did the harder job of making the peach leather (2 big 8 tray batches) and bottled about 70 quarts. Our neighbor has a nice plum tree but never eats them, so every year except last year we've made plum jam or bottled them whole. This year was not an exception...I bottled 40 jars! It will be nice to eat the FRUITS of our labor!

Homemade Bunk Beds



Qaiden outgrew his toddler bed and so instead of buying bunk beds, Rich decided it would be cheaper to build his own...of course that meant he had to buy all the tools to do it! So after about $1000 later, the boys now have nice bunk beds that we can seperate later if we want and he'll build a book shelf too. It's nice that now we have the tools to build a lot of things ourselves though!

The boys just LOVE their beds and when a new friend comes over, they have to first show them it! Thanks honey, for all your hard work!!!

Farmer's Market

We just discovered the Salt Lake City Farmer's Market thanks to Shelley who just moved there and lives in the Avenues. Rich just couldn't leave without buying himself his precious watermelon. We also bought honey, homemade soap, raw pecans, canteloupe, etc. It sure is a nice place to find fresh organic produce!

Rachael at the Bridal Shower

We got into 3 groups and each had to design a wedding dress out of toilet paper...Rachael won of course...doesn't she look beautiful?! It was funny because both Chantel and Shelley (both my sisters) were manaquins too. We had a lot of fun at the shower!

Chantel & Reed Wilkinson

My sister, Chantel and Reed get married October 25th, 2008. They make such a cute couple. I just had to post this little bit of info. for all those that didn't know. Chantel was living with me since June and early September, drove up with Reed to Portland, Oregon to live near him until they get married. It's been nice having her here, but it was about time for her to be near Reed...she was always on the phone with him...now her phone bills won't be so high!!! I love you Chantel and yes, the kids and I will miss you too. CONGRATS GIRL!

Little Rascals Preschool!



Qaiden loves attending his new preschool at Miss Julie's House Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12:30-3:00 pm. It's also a nice break for mom...

Our Garden of Eatin'

This years garden was a lot better than last years, but I will have to start weeding if we want bigger tomatoes next year...I just HATE that aspect of gardening! Oh well, at least we enjoyed our veggies and gave quite a bit to our neighbors because they were growing out of our ears!

Well, as many of you know by now, I tend to think a little too deeply about life and like to compare things around us to ourselves and other things. So, the other day while I was entertaining parents and sisters and Chantel's friend, I looked out the kitchen window at our little garden. I saw all these veggies like our giant broccoli and lettuce plants that I let go to seed and my squash, tomato, pepper, and cucumber plants. I stood there in awe of how they grow bigger to produce the fruit and then the seeds. The fruit they all produce I likened to our own lives and the deeds we perform (whether good or bad) and the seeds they have within themselves are pure like little babies born...the seeds are our children and after they are born, will learn to perform deeds as well. I only hope that my little seeds will learn to do good in their lives. Hopefully my example is good enough for them to follow in like manner. So, we were all around the kitchen table eating a big breakfast as I told them my thoughts and they couldn't help but laugh at my popcorn metephorical way of thinking! You can laugh too if you want, but I often look at things this way as it helps me understand myself and our world a little better. And what a beautiful world it is!!!

Qaiden Plays Soccer

 

Qaiden starts soccer!  (mom-the cheerleader)

 Qaiden is #18

 This as a common occurance...#18 stands alone...WATCHING!

QAIDEN SCORE!!! Halleluia!

 Qaiden, his team, and Coach

Mom enrolled Qaiden in Farmington Flash Soccer, which was held at the Heritage Park (located just east of our home) to help direct his ENDLESS energy into something fun and worthwhile. At first, he just stood and watched, then he felt comfortable enough to hang on the coach and touch his sunglasses...then he wanted to always blow his whistle. Finally he ended up playing some. He wasn't aggressive suprisingly, but he would run with the other kids and wait for the ball to come to him. I guess that's all we could ask for at that point! Way To Go Bud!!!  His friend, Ammon Anderson who lived just a few homes down from us was on his team which we thought would help...NOT!  At least he had fun though, right?!

"O Crap..."

We have two daughters, both of which have nasty habits...one forgets to flush the toilet and put the lid down (7 yr. old Rachael) and one that likes to play in the toilet (1 yr. old Aleah)... Here is the end result!!!

Kid's Lemonade Stand!

Tori (Victoria Anderson), Rachael, and a Mexican girl who lived across from the Anderson's?

They wanted to earn a little extra money, so I made some strawberry-lemonade and they had fun giving FREE lemonade to their friends around the neighborhood and drinking the rest... at least they had fun, right?

Chantel Makes Us German Pancakes

 

Thanks for the yummy pancakes...they were delicious!

Aleah the Olympic Gymnist!!!

 She always got into this position and we thought it was funny enough to get it on camera!

Shelley & the Kids at Lagoon

 The three older kids, Jacob, Rachael, and Qaiden all got wet on one of the rides!

Richard and I were in Greece during this time and while gone, our Stake had their annual Lagoon Theme Park day in which some of the rides were free.  Chantel came a little later and took the photos of them together.  They had a blast apparently!

Aleah rides at Lagoon!

4th of July Family Reunion



~Goodbye till next year~

Stevie, Charise/Aleah, Rachael, and Shelley 

 CAVE EXPLORING 

We heard a group of people not far from where we camped and they told us that there was a cave not far from us.  So, we went to explore the area.

Shelley takes a ride on Paytons smaller ATV 

Reed, Dan, Steve, Chantel play some games

 The whole group!

Charise rides the Rhino and ended up getting a flat tire!...sorry Dan!

Jacob's Hat

 Qaiden's Patriotic Hat

Watermelon time!

Payton gives Rachael a ride... 

                          RACHAEL                                        ALEAH

Payton's ATV...Jacob sits in back, Qaiden wants a ride too!

Kids have fun with their glow-in-the-dark necklaces

  

Jacob, Payton, Reed, and Chantel

Roasting marshmellows!

 Aleah and Rachael

 Breakfast time...

Sitting around eating breakfast I think. 

 Cheryl and Charise prepare food in the trailer.

Qaiden 

Sparkler Fun

Ashlynn and Rachael 

Campfires are not complete without FOIL DINNERS!

 YUMMM....fresh fish for breakfast.  As you see how tired we look, we were awoken by sheep being herded through our area in the wee hours of the morning.  It was kind of cool though but bells were ringing and sheep were "BAAAAAing" and everyone was awake earlier than planned.  And after a late night, it wasn't too much fun.  Oh well...the kids thought it was pretty cool to try to chase after them all.

  Rachael and Grandpa show off their freshly caught fish from Duck Creek

Grandpa went fishing and Jacob helped 

Rachael, Ash, Jacob, Payton, Qaiden, Logan, and Aleah

The kids all won something fun to play with.

 The kids play another game with Grandma as the organizer.

Shelley helps the kids build a Zoo for all their toys they got playing games.  One of which was a TREASURE HUNT!

Ashlynn holds Aleah

The adults play cards as is a tradition

Charise and Qaiden go for a ride.

Cheryl and Dan brought along their 2 ATV's and big passenger Rhino off-road vehicles

 

Jacob, Rachael, and Qaiden in front of our Campsite

2008 Nebeker Family Reunion

Our 1st Official Reunion 

Duck Creek Canyon

(near Cedar City, Utah)

July 4th

Reese's Ramblings...July 2008

Sometimes I look at my life in wonder and amazement at all my blessings, often thinking I don't deserve it. With all the terrible things happening all over the world, where do people find the peace that I have found? Many still search in vain for peace and don't know where to find it. All I am certain of, is that peace does not come from the world. It doesn't come from your favorite T.V program. It doesn't come from a song you like on the radio. It doesn't come from your favorite drink or food you're craving in the moment (even if it is chocolate). It doesn't even come from your weekly yoga class (though it has helped me to unwind). I know that I don't have all the answers to life's little dilemmas, but I CAN tell you that finding inner peace will help you receive answers to your questions.Our family had a goal of reading "The Book of Mormon" another testament of Jesus Christ every night together before going to bed. We thought this challenge hard at first because our kids were so young...but found out that it was easier than we thought! It isn't just a bedtime routine now. In fact, our children often remind us if we haven't yet read and look forward to hearing the neat stories of characters that really lived hundreds of years ago.It wasn't until we adopted this nightly tradition when our home became a place that we could feel this inner peace together. Each member of our family will tell you how important our time together with our Family Book of Mormon is. Without it, I'm afraid to even go back to our life the way it was a few years ago! It was more chaotic, tense, and contentious.NOW....our home is like a little peace of heaven (some of the time :) Yes, we still have moments of contention and frustrations...luckily they don't last long...But, life gets better and better each day as we put in a little effort to draw nearer to our Savior, Jesus Christ.I hope you can all find this peace too.Thanks for listening...