The Little Rascal

Ammon has completely mangled the blinds in our living room, drawn on the walls, and removed all of the door stoppers! He is definitely a BOY!

To Grandpa & Grandma K

This "Princess" tent has had it's fair share of imaginary play since arriving on our doorstep. Sariah loves it!

Love,
Sariah

Especially for Auntie Chelsea

Thank You Auntie Chelsea, Rocky, Tysho, Lincoln & Precious Baby MaeLee for the beautiful fairy attire!

To: The Grandparents-W/Sophie Reposted

So...your probably wondering why I forgot to post a picture of Sophie. To tell you the truth, I don't know, I just couldn't find a picture at the time. Here is one of Sophie being silly.


Sophie pretending to be a ballerina.

Ammon safely asleep outside the bathroom door.

Sariah posing for the camera

Sadie in her witch costume.

From:
Sadie, Sophie, Sariah, & Ammon

Big Changes-Reposted

Sorry. Blogging world I've been feeling not myself. All I have to type on my blessed blog is that my children are all on medication (flu and strep throat medication) and I am glad they are finally going to be heading on the road to recovery! As for myself, I am not on medication, but I am slowly getting through this flu.
Dallas was able to get all the additional schools he requested. We've decided to forgo all the schools, but one ARC (I think that is the right acronym). This school will carry us into December after which we will leave this blessed place and return home for Christmas! We are all way excited to spend time with family and head to Hawaii! Although Hawaii is just the beginning...we are just so ready to be settled.
On a special note Sadie lost another tooth! She received a visit from the Tooth Fairy and was covered in pixie dust! Sadie wrote a special note to the Tooth Fairy in which she asked "When is your birthday?" The Tooth Fairy replied, "December 2nd"??? Oh yeah, she received a whopping five dollar bill! How is that for Tooth Fairy money?




I had to post a new picture of Sadie and her missing tooth, the other picture was just too sad! She had the flu at the time and didn't feel well.

Drenched From Head to Toes

Dallas just returned the other day from being five days out in the field. He showed up on our doorstep at 9:30 Tuesday night drenched from head to toes from the pouring rain; the girls screamed with excitement and my heart skipped a beat...my true love was home! Dallas means the WORLD to our four children and myself, without him we are just incomplete.
This time around I seriously was not ready for another five day adventure without Dallas. The constant pouring rain did not help matters because it limited our "things to do list". Fortunately, we made it through.




Here is a picture of some of Dallas' Army gear nice and muddy. I washed the rest because I am such an awesome wife!

BYU Football

Dallas and Ammon enjoying a game of BYU Football! Go Cougars!

Born To Be Wild!

Dallas and Ammon were both in desperate need of a haircut, so Dallas got to it. He enjoyed cutting Ammon's hair and Ammon enjoyed smiling for the camera! I love the way these two interact!


Dallas and Ammon before the haircut. Ammon couldn't stop smiling for the camera.



Dallas and Ammon with their mohawks! I think both look adorable! Ammon has the perfect hair for a mohawk.



The boy's with their shaved heads! I miss Dallas' curls and Ammon's straight hair! I love them both very much!

"My Country, 'Tis of Thee"

Last week Dallas was away doing his first BOLC III field training, which consisted of six days not including the Saturday and Sunday before he had to work until 7p.m. So, the kids and I had to fill our days with things to keep us occupied. Instead of taking a ten minute drive to the Post Office, on Post, I decided it would be more fun if we walked. Sophie lovingly refers to this walk as "the journey" and that is exactly what it was! On the way we talked about Army life and how hard it was to have Dad gone for so long. The girls missed their Dad and so did I despite it only being a couple of days! Dallas and I have been apart for weeks and months at a time, not by choice, but because he had to do some sort of training for the Amy. I informed the girls that their Dad would be gone more frequently and that next year he probably would be deployed, which meant he would be away from us for an entire year. This saddened Sadie and Sophie of course and they asked if he would ever come home and I replied, "yes." I explained to them that their Dad and I prayed about the decision to join the Army and I believed from that moment on that he would be protected from harm. I continued to explain that we should be proud of our Dad for protecting our freedom and all the other soldiers who have given their lives for our country.

I still have many more field training exercises and deployments to go, I am not looking forward to them, but I know Dallas is doing what he is suppose to be doing and that brings me comfort. He is a wonderful born leader. I can see the greatness in him and it brings me joy to see his excitement!

My faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ is what keeps me strong. My determination to live the Gospel and keep my Covenants is what binds Dallas and I, we are best friends and we are in this together!

Sophie lovingly saluting the U.S. Flag! She did this on her own.

Sadie and Sophie saluting the U.S. Flag.

Posing for the camera. It was a slow day, none of us had showered, as you probably can tell Sariah is still in her pajamas!

Sadie's Summer Birthday Celebration

Sadie's 3rd Grade class celebrated summer Birthday's last Friday and Sariah, Ammon and I were invited. We had a wonderful time visiting with Sadie and her class. This was the highlight of Sadie's week at school!


Sadie and Sariah enjoying their goodies!

The entire class, including Sariah and I, sang "Happy Birthday Cha, Cha, Cha" to Sadie and her two classmates, it was precious! We also played a Science Quiz Game that literally jump started my brain!

I captured this look of pure delight on Sadie's face...I love it!

This in a reenactment of the previous picture! She was so excited!

Ammon and Sariah playing in the back of the classroom. They behaved so well, I was extremely proud of them both!

The Smell of Fall

Sadie had this wonderful idea of gathering up as many leaves as possible, her goal was to recreate a giant pile of leaves similar to what we had back when we lived in Wymount (BYU Student Housing). So...Sadie gave everyone a job. The children were all assigned to pick leaves and place them in the pile while she raked as many leaves as she could. My job was to hold Ammon and take pictures for the blog.



This old wagon became very useful when gathering leaves for the soon to be "ginormous" pile.

Sadie made sure I was taking pictures for the blog!

Ammon being cute and cuddly.

Sophie smiling for the camera!

Melanie Whitehead, Sariah's best friend who is also three years old.

Sariah saying, "cheese" for the camera!

The hardworking gang! The Gilmore and Whitehead children.

Sadie recruited Dallas in raking up the leaves, he loves this sort of stuff.

Dallas handed out grocery bags to each of the children, they were to fill the bags!

Sophie and Sariah laying in the leaves.

Sadie enjoying the pile of leaves!

This was the last evening we spent with the Whitehead children, who we grew to love and enjoy! They became our friends when we didn't have any and vice versa! We sure miss their sweet spirits.

Wyatt & Alma

Photo taken by Rocky Tano. http://rtdwebfolio.blogspot.com

Congratulations Wyatt & Alma!

Love D & B

Sariah's 3rd Birthday Party

Our Sweatheart Sariah turns 3 on the 5th of September, but since Dallas will be out in the field starting Monday, we thought Thursday night would be an appropriate time to celebrate Sariah's special day! We started the Birthday Festivities with pizza and a movie "Race To Witch Mountain" followed by cake and gifts. Sariah has been extremely anxious for her "own" birthday party!

"It's my Birthday, yay!"

Sariah picked out her own cake mix, frosting and sprinkles. She was very excited to blow out her candle!























This summer Dallas read the girls "The Witches" by Roald Dahl, we all enjoyed this book very much! Shortly after reading the book we rented the movie and the girls compared, which they liked better. The book was by far better than the movie! Sariah, especially, loved the Grand High Witch! Everything from that moment on became the Grand High Witch, which is why we bought her this extremely cute costume to play in!

Look at those cute feet.





















Here is Sariah in her Fairy Costume! Isn't she adorable! She loves to twirl and twirl until she becomes very dizzy!

Sariah we are so very grateful to have you in our family! You bring such a sweet and energetic spirit into our home everytime you smile! Your laughter is contagious and we love you dearly for it!


Sariah ate two slices of birthday cake before heading to bed! Isn't that awesome?!

We love you Sweetheart, Daddy, Mommy, Sadie, Sophie & Ammon

Our Visit With The Amish

This picture was taken in Marion, KY, which is the town nearest the Amish Community.

I've been a little obsessed with the Amish Community and their way of life ever since we arrived in Kentucky. As a result, on a whim, Dallas graciously took our family on a three and a half hour drive to Western Kentucky last Monday at my request. The children had so much fun exploring this new culture.


Imagine seeing a sign like this. Fortunately, we were able to see several horse drawn buggies, but were unable to take pictures due to Amish etiquette (pictures are allowed, but not those showing their faces).

An abandoned barn beside the road.

While driving up to this barn, "Creekside Produce", a young boy no older than fourteen and his two siblings (the youngest being maybe four) loaded boxes of bell peppers onto their trailer pulled by two sturdy clydesdales. While at "Creekside Produce", which was inside the family barn, we purchased three jars of jam and one jar of relish.

A water pump beside "Creekside Produce".

A young man riding his horse alongside the rode just down the street from where we stopped to buy jam and relish.

Beautiful isn't it? Before leaving the Amish Commuity we stopped to buy sweet corn, bell peppers, and hot chili peppers and then made a stop at "Yoder's Furniture and Variety Store" where we purchased four pencil sharpeners, peanut brittle, and a jar of honey. The pencil sharpeners, unfortunately, were made in China! So lame. The peanut brittle was amazing!!!

We took the "Cave in Rock Ferry" across the Ohio River to Illinois.

Dallas standing at the mouth of the cave with the children in Cave in Rock, Illinois. The cave was home to local Native Americans and River Pirates.

Compared to the heat outside the cave was actually quite nice...nice and cool that is. Sophie wanted out! Dallas with the children.

The children and I. Cute picture.

Our family picure in Cave in Rock, Illinois with the Ohio River in the background.

Proof that we were in Illinois! Thought of my brother Brian the entire time...he served in the Chicago, Illinois Mission.

A barge hauling coal along the Ohio River.

Back in Marion, KY we stopped at McDonald's to buy dinner for the girls. Dallas quickly and might I add secretively snapped this photo of an Amish man and his young daughter attempting to enter McDonald's, they turned around due to the fact that the girl was not wearing any shoes.
Loved the trip, it was exhilirating and educational! I especially love that Dallas took us so far to see the Amish.