A question you probably all ask yourselves on a daily basis...

Can Stacey's cheek's get any chubbier? 

Well, the answer is...  NO! It's just not humanly possible.

I just had my wisdom teeth removed yesterday and I was all prepared for how awful I would look today with all of the swelling and bruising from the surgery. I've seen other people after they have their wisdom teeth removed and they usually look like chipmunks storing nuts for the winter.

But, apparently my cheek's have already reached the maximum limit of chubbiness because getting my wisdom teeth out didn't even phase them. I look exactly the same today as I do any other day. No swelling, No Bruising, No nothing. 

All in all I'm feeling fine today and I'm sure that my mouth will be as good as new in a couple of days. But I think I am forever stuck with these chubby cheeks. 

1st Day of School

School started today...

Alaina is a big 4th Grader now. She has 2 teachers this year. Mrs. Bampton teaches her class in the am and Mrs. Maxson teaches her class in the pm. She has lots of friends in her class this year including 5 girls from church which she is super excited about. Alaina is playing the piano and trying out some acting classes for her activities this year.  (Alaina 9 years old)

Ky is in 3rd grade. We have heard nothing but good things about Ky's teacher this year. He  has Mrs. Stewart. Ky has a few kids from last year in his class this year and is excited to be in 3rd grade. Ky is starting piano lessons next week and just had his first soccer practice of the season yesterday. He is also having alot of fun being a cub scout. ( Ky 8 years old)

Hailey is in first grade. That means all day at school, her own desk, and she gets to eat lunch at school just like the big kids. Hailey has Mrs. Sherman for her teacher this year. When we told Hailey that her best friend Emily got another teacher this year and she wouldn't know to many of the kids in her class her response was... Sweet, I get to make all new friends this year!!! That is totally Hailey. Making friends is her business and she is way excited for the challenge. Hailey is trying soccer for the first time this year and she seems to love it. She is defiantly one of the more aggressive girls on the team. (Hailey 6 years old)

Kase is our little man. He is 4 and in preschool this year. He goes 3 mornings a week to Young Years Preschool. He has a lot of friends at preschool from last year and loves going. However, he can't help but think about next year when he gets to be a kindergartner and go to the same school as his older siblings. Kase has 3 preschool teachers Mrs.Rains, Mrs. Long, and Mrs. Yaden. (Kase 4 years old)

A little Slip and Slide Fun!

Our kids wanted one last summer fling before school started, so we invited about 20 families to join us for a Family Night Potluck with a little slip and slide action. The kids had a lot of fun slipping, sliding, crashing and racing down the 100 foot long slip and slide.

Buddies Ky and Chase

Buddies Alaina and Shavon

And the award for the best fall goes to... Chase Kissell

Hudson couldn't wait for his swim suit. He just jumped right into a bucket of water and had a blast splashing around.

After dinner a few of the dads were ready to get wet so they came over to play with the kids.

Going for a ride!

Once the Adults took over the slip and slide, the kids had fun playing in the sand or shall I say MUD.

AND THEN THE REAL RACES BEGAN!!!

That's right, Dans cheating, and it's caught on camera. 

Even when going  down solo the dads remained focused and intense. After partially loosing his shorts on the last try, we think Jason is just praying that all will go smother at the end of this ride. 

Helping Hands!

Thus Ended The Summer Fun!! 

Dan has issued the challenge for the next time around. He dares someone to come take his championship belt away. Competitive? Maybe just a little!

It was fun! A big thanks to all the families that showed up to enjoy the fun. 

Total Bummer

So I know I just announced that I'm pregnant but it looks like this is going to be miscarriage #2 for the Ostler's. Disappointed doesn't begin to describe how I feel right now. This pregnancy was such a lifesaver for me. It was what was helping me get over my last miscarriage. It was giving me something to look forward to and in all honestly I was super excited. Now it has just left me wondering what I'm doing wrong. I thought after having 5 healthy kids I had this whole having babies thing down. What am I missing? Is it because I'm fat? Do I need to become a perfect mom to the kids I already have before I'll be given anymore? Do I need to have the eight passenger car actually purchased before I get pregnant with #6? Are my hormones out of whack? Is my body done having kids? (It seems a little early for menopause) 

I feel really sad and frustrated knowing there are more spirits that need to come to our family but not knowing how I'm ever going to get them here. I know this happens to everyone and that if I keep trying it will eventually work out. But I still have the emotions now. I still want the children now. I still don't like going through this and I defiantly want off this emotional roller coaster. 

I guess the Lord knows that the timing isn't right for this to happen quite yet. That is my only saving thought. God is in control. I just need to take a deep breath and keep putting my life and health together so that when the time is right in God's eyes....I will be ready and able for the children that are supposed to be mine. 

Phantom of the Opera

Dan and I had a great trip this weekend to Portland with Mike and Karri Stoker. We left town around 1:00 on Friday, got to our hotel with enough time to get checked in and all dressed up for a fun evening. We had dinner at the Marina Fish House which is a floating restaurant there on the river. After dinner we were off to Phantom of the Opera. It was our first time seeing it live and it was awesome. I couldn't believe the vocal talent on stage. The songs are so hard, yet they all hit EVERY NOTE! And not just hit the notes. They killed it. The performance was really fun to watch, and  I loved the theatrics and sets. 

The next morning we went to the Portland Temple. We did a session there which is always a joy for us. We love that temple and have a ton of personal history there. I was endowed there and prior to the Tri Cities getting our own temple, we actually attended that temple very regularly. With friends in Portland we found it really fun and easy to justify going there instead of Seattle when the time came to go and serve.

On the way home from the temple, we hit an outlet mall and did some shopping. The Stokers ended up with a bag or two of something, but Dan and I left with only a smoothie. Fun Times none the less. 

PHANTOM WEEKEND WAS A HUGE SUCCESS! Cant wait to do it again. 

Silverwood

Silverwood here we come! I mean CAME! That's right, we hit the biggest amusement park in the region with our kids and our good friends Annette and Jacob Rose and children. 

The kids had a lot of fun getting warmed up on all of the kiddie rides.

Then it was off to Coaster Alley. We had a blast riding all of the biggest and best coasters and thrill rides. 

The Newest roller coaster is called Aftershock. This one that takes you up 20 stories high, dangles you face down for a few seconds and then drops you into a free fall straight to your death. I mean.....drops you until you think you are about to die, when suddenly it whisks you into a double loop twisty thingy at mach 5 speed. Then rockets you back up the same 20 stories and suspends you in air with your back to the ground this time around. And of course, drops you back down the death drop (backwards this time), only to take you all the way through the ride backwards this time. YEAH WE DID IT! A couple times in fact. And even our 5 year old wanted more of it. Rock On Hailey!!

We got a little wet on a few of the rides as well.

And we made sure to hit the kids section of Boulder Beach, the water park there. 

With train rides consisting of cowboys and train robbers, magicians at the pizza parlor, and an ice skating show we were non-stop having fun this whole weekend. 

The Roses hooked us up with a really cool condo that we would love to stay at again. Especially if we could stay longer to enjoy the pool, golf course, racket ball courts, and more. 

By the time we were driving home, we were worn out. 2 full days at an amusement park can take it's toll. But we enjoyed every minute of it and would totally do it again.