my little brother's wedding

Brian & Sarah are so happy. This had been a long time coming
for both of them. It couldn't have been a more perfect day!

cowboy baby blanket

I had so much fun picking out the fabric and making this blanket for my sister-in-law, Kelli. She ended up having her baby 2 weeks early, so my blanket (that only had to be bound) was two weeks late. But, it turned out cute and I hope that many hours of spitting up will be put on this blanket! Kelli's baby, Ridge, is adorable and I even got to change his spit up clothes today and a wet diaper. It's crazy, but that was a complete joy to me!

it's the great pumpkins

Ellie & Casey harvested the pumpkins because of the cold nights we have been having! We were so excited about how many we grew this year. All these came off of two plants! My husband can be quite the farmer! Now we will wait as the sun oranges them up.

life

I have been learning a lot about life in the past 24 hours. Last night we were told that my parents neighbor and friend for the past 21 years, had been hit and killed by a young man driving a car. Paul was on a walk with his wife when the accident happened. They were walking down a country road around dusk and I wouldn't be surprised if they were walking hand in hand as they did most of the time when I saw them. Paul leaves behind his wife, Leah, and 4 kids ranging from 11-22.
As my brain has been trying to process all that has happened during this 24 hour time period I think of all the emotions that I have experienced from shock, to disbelief, to sadness and grief, and finally (at the moment) peace. I am grateful for my religion that explains to me why we exist and what our purpose in life is, where we came from and where we are going. I gather great comfort in knowing I will be with my family and my children in the next life, and yet I see and have felt (by being in Leah's home) the grief that she is experiencing and I wonder when her comfort will come for her and her children.
I have been asking myself lots of questions and have been doing some self-evaluations: Do I make every day count? Do my children and husband know that I love them? Do my actions and words express that love? Do I appreciate those around me that I love? Do I take the time and express appreciation for the association that I have with them?
There are so many more questions. But I do know that I will make a much greater effort to enrich the relationships that I have while on this earth! I have been given a great blessing to be down here on this earth at this time and to be able to go through this life with Casey makes all the hardships worth it. The bonus to my life is all the added friends and loved ones that I know. What a blessing!

Finished project!

By church the next day we had something that was wearable! I think that was definitely a record for me to complete a project within a 24 hour time period. Ashlyn got to pick out the material and did have the chance to sit by me (and do a little sewing for herself) to learn how clothes are put together. It was an awesome night and we got to spend some quality time together and it just doesn't seem to be enough of that these days, so Ashlyn and I are grateful to have done this together!

Date night with Ashlyn

A group of ladies got together one night and wanted to give their girls a chance to get their creative juices flowing and make a sewing project. Ash and I made a skirt and their was shirts, pj pants and curtains also being constructed. Ashlyn was just excited about the prospect of ironing (I guess I should give her more opportunities to do that at home, but I really don't want to be replacing any clothing at the moment.) Here are some of our friends displaying their talents! At the end of the night we had a lot of giggly girls, some projects that were on the brink of being completed and me, as a grateful mom who got to know her daughter a little bit better.

Move over Martha!

Not too often do I make, what I feel for myself, a culinary masterpiece! I had some peaches that I needed to use because they were ripened to perfection. I got a great recipe for a sweet crust and then made a really fattening and creamy spread. The peaches were the icing on the cake! And to top it all off it looks pretty, so I had to take a picture for posterity sake! My children did mock me for taking a picture of food, but when I get it right one time, I have to flaunt it. YEAH!

Jack Black III

Well surprise, surprise, surprise!!!
For some reason we thought we were done with the raccoon
business this summer and then came #3!
Our Puzey family hadn't looked in the garden trap for a few
days, so we have no idea how long this little guy
had been in there! Of course it happened to be another
long night for us. So, poor Casey had to go and let the 'coon go
into the wilderness at 10 p.m. (this is very late for us!)
I guess I shouldn't complain at all because I am getting
the full country experience and it has taken me
for quite a ride!

This little guy happened to be a lot littler than the other
two. Casey wasn't so worried this time about getting
his arm chewed off by a rabid raccoon!

new family motto

I wanted to jot down a few thoughts that I have been having before Ellie wakes up this morning!
In conversations that I have with a friend she uses the phrase 'we can do hard things' or 'I can do hard things', a lot! She usually says this when her or her family is about to accomplish or even start out on a goal.
As I have thought on this phrase, it is something that I want my own family to adopt. I think too often (with myself) we take the easy road out. If something is a bit of a challenge or it seems as if it might take too long or take too great of an effort it is easy to give up and forget the goal or even the dream! I don't want to give up on my dreams and I don't want Casey or my children to give up their dreams. If something appears to be too difficult, I want them to attack it head on and not even bat an eyelash. Sure, it is fine to be scared and intimidated, but when we overcome things that make us feel that way, that is when we really grow. That, is a true accomplishment.
I want my kids to be proud of me and say, "Wow, that's my mom!" I want my life to be rewarding and challenging. I WANT TO DO HARD THINGS!

Don't ask...it's a PUZEY thing!

Autumn Sundays

Casey & I decided to enjoy a gorgeous fall evening. So, we took the kids up to BYU-I gardens and played around. The kids thought that it would be fun to play 'leap frog', but they forgot that Ellie's legs are little. Most of the time she was on the grass laying on her back or being lifted over someone by Tanner or Ashlyn.











Leap frog didn't work to well,
so we ended with 'London Bridges.'

And the race is on!

Here we are on Saturday before our great race! We ran to benefit autism, the kids (minus Ellie) ran in the mile run and I did the 10k. It was a beautiful day and we had lots of fun. My running partner Jodi stayed by my side and cheered for me all the way! Now that I am in my 30's and just getting into running I am really pleasantly surprised at the camaraderie that these runners have during the race. We were in the middle of the pack and all of those who were in front of us would eventually go by us again and they all had such great words of praise and encouragement! I loved it!




We ran up the hill by the Rexburg temple and then past the water tower and back down the hill. It was 6 miles, and I tell you that I couldn't have been prouder of myself to have accomplished one of the goals on my life list. We'll see if I bump it up next time to a half marathon. I'll have to let my muscles recover from this one first and maybe I will forget my aches and pains (like childbirth).
This has been a great family activity for us. We have done these races a few times and its great to see the kids get all excited and want to train and get into shape!

I had a great cheering section and it definitely made me want to do my best!

Tanner's 1st cross country meet!

Rare and very sweet moments!

I couldn't help but snap this picture. I was at the kitchen table
and looked over to see Sam, chillin' after school, with Ellie laying
on him while they watch a Disney movie! I first thought, 'Is he just
reeling her in and letting her get all comfortable before he whops her?' or
'Is he delirious after a long day at school?'. I decided not to worry
about it, just savor the moment and keep on praying for more to come!

The Crushing Has Begun!

This little folded piece of paper was put in Tanner's back pack at school!
I don't know if I am prepared for what the relationship drama, but
I don't know if there is much that I can do to stop it! I think that Tanner was
flattered, but embarrassed, also!

Nacho party, the night of a thousand laughs!

Deep thoughts!

I have been thinking a lot lately on life and how fast it seems to move around me. My running buddy, Jodi, uses the word balance a lot as she talks (and I pant) during our early morning runs.
I think of how I can balance my life with everything and everyone I am involved in. I know that I feel stressed and anxious when things aren't in balance, but I also think that learning to be flexible and releasing some of my control would help with those feelings
Then, yesterday at church a young man bore his testimony on putting Christ first in our lives, a lightbulb went on in my head and I realized that is where my balance lies. It is with Christ! I truly believe when Christ is first and the center of my life then that 'balance' comes. My days go smoother, I seem to have more patience with my kids and life is happier in our home.
Now I am not saying that if Christ comes first that I won't experience trials or heartache, but that life (for me) will be aligned and that I can feel good about myself and the direction that my life is headed because Christ is at the center of it.
I know that I knew this a long time ago, but I constantly need to be reminded of these simple principles of the gospel!

Nachooooooooooooooo!

We held our first annual Nacho Libre (this is our families favorite movie) party tonite! And what a PARTY it was. The costumes, the food and the laughter made it all worth it. Everyone was great sports (except for Uncle Chris who wasn't too excited to pull a nylon stocking over his head, but he did)! We have lots of pictures to check out and are working on a slideshow, you won't want to miss.

The Puzey Garden Harvest!

It is harvest time and we had fun collecting some of the things grown in the garden. Our overall experience was fun and great learning for the kids. They got to get dirty and be responsible for the things which were grown. Next year we will be more prepared in what we actually will plant. About 3/4 of what is shown on the tarp are onions. We will never eat that many, but they will be put up for the winter. Hopefully we won't have to rely on our food supply of onions to see us through until next summer, but you never know!
We got a great crop of potatoes and will definitely do more next year. Cucumbers and peppers were awesome. The onions speak for themselves and of course we will be having lots of zucchini boats float down the ditch! Most of the raspberries were made into freezer jam or eaten quickly in milk shakes (our most favorite)! I have to honestly say that I am excited for next year already!

Grandpa's boo boo!

Ellie saw a scab on grandpa's hand and thought
that it should be picked right away. Of course
it started to bleed so her cure-all for any owie is. . .

a Barbie band-aid. Grandpa was a great sport and thought that it
would definitely fix the problem. So, Ellie quickly dressed the wound. . .

and grandpa was all better! What a cute pair!!

Baby blanket!

I was so excited to finish this blanket for my dear friend!
I even did all the machine quilting which
was very gratifying for me.

The fabric was really fun and soft
for her cute boy that is coming in a couple of
weeks! Yeah! I am just so excited to have
done it. You know how you have one of those things that you
think that you will never accomplish and then you do and you can't believe it.
That was this project for me. Only two more baby boy blankets
to go for my sisters-in-law and then we will be out of the baby mode for a while!

Another RACCOON, Jack Black II

Here we go again! Our second raccoon in less than a week!
I think that we live in the center of the wildlife reserve for raccoons!

The kids think that all of this is pretty cool.
I never knew what all came with farm life,
but it sure keeps everything exciting!

Casey coaches Tanner's team!

Last day of Soccer!!!

Sam moving up the field.

Tanner going up against a girl!

Ashlyn and her buddy Mason Parker.

After 5 weeks of soccer, having to play 3 games a night, twice a week, (about 30 games total).
I AM DONE!

Ellie's 1st day of Pre-school

Ellie was ready and willing this morning to head off to
Mrs. Jill's pre-school. She was sporting her new
school clothes along with her princess back pack.
We also did the french braid headband like
her friend Lily. She's had it all planned out for quite
a while.

This is her 'crazy' face!
I'm not quite sure what I will do with myself
as everyone is gone, but it probably won't
take too long to figure something out!