The Spice of Life

Christmas Day

2012-01-03T13:05:00.000-08:00

Bright and early, 6:00 arrived!

Mom armed with camera, Dad with camcorder...they came up the stairs!

Youngest to oldest...there was still a lot of high-pitch squealing when the oldest reached the top of the stairs.

We are so excited to learn how to play the piano!

Stocking treats

Owl heating pads

Some BYU gear

Bracelet-making supplies

Two dogs!!

a guitar!

Lots and lots of shooting in our future

We enjoyed a tasty breakfast at our new table.

We had time to play with a few toys before it was time to get ready for church. Church was wonderful! We had a fantastic program with scripture reading and music. I think Christmas should be on Sunday every year!

When we got home from church everyone took a REQUIRED nap! When we woke up, we enjoyed a relaxing afternoon....

building a puzzle,

and lots and lots of piano playing...do YOU know how to play "Mary had a little lamb?"

Christmas Eve

2012-01-03T12:13:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve morning found our kids out jumping on the trampoline...so much for a white Christmas this year!

We have a tradition with our neighbors of Christmas Eve breakfast. It was delicious and we feel especially grateful to have such great neighbors. After breakfast we continued with tradition and went to a movie at the theatre. We picked a great movie this year that I would recommend to anyone, called Hugo. Great movie, great message...loved it! (Thank you Uncle Nate!)

We gathered at Grandpa's house that evening for our reading of the scriptures and acting out the nativity.

The kids always have such fun acting out the Christmas story and I think it helps make the story real to them. Note to self: when I'm a Grandma, nativity costumes are a must!

These teenagers might think they're too old to get excited on Christmas eve, but I know better!

Finally...it was time to open pajamas.

This year Santa went with store bought ones...nice to know the kids noticed, but didn't care too much. This year my sewing machine didn't get near as much mileage as last year...

the girls were pleased to get "footy" pajamas.

And boys can turn any pajamas into manly, fighting apparel.

These cousins were a tribute to the story of the Grinch...

who almost came out on Christmas because of how late Mom and Dad had to stay up Christmas Eve. Mom with 3 and 1/2 hours of sleep=the Grinch!

This train set is so much fun....but it does take awhile to set up!

We were blessed this year with a wonderful Christmas...much of which had to be set up after all the kiddies went to sleep. Have you ever tried to quietly set up a new table and chairs???

Or a dog house tent? Yes, we worked up a sweat!

My husband spent several hours setting up all the reloading equipment.

Fortunately with the new piano, all the moving had been done weeks earlier and we just had to take off the blankets! Thanks to the Larsen's who helped convince the kids that we were hiding a t.v. for them!!! Finally at 2:30 a.m. we were ready for bed!

He's 40!

2012-01-03T11:55:00.001-08:00

Two days before Christmas, we woke up my sleepy husband on his 40th birthday!!

He is no longer a young buck, but we still have a whole lot of fun! He opened several gifts that morning...including a gift certificate from his thoughtful kids to a yummy restaurant for a birthday date. We had a wonderful time that evening.

Happy Birthday!

We went pretty easy on him....however, he had paybacks coming from his older sister who he horribly tormented a few years back on her 40th.

He got a few choice reminders of his age including,
L'Oreal's Vita Lift, an anti-wrinkle and firming moisturizer, bacon balm (bacon-flavored lip balm), salad floss,

and emergency underpants.

He was a good sport, but she went pretty easy on him. I took note of his experiences and decided to not be too mean on his 40th since I will be there in just a few years too!

50th Anniversary

2012-01-03T09:51:00.000-08:00

On December 13th, my in-laws celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary.

I just love these two people! Aside from my own parents, they have had the biggest influence on my life, and everyday I am grateful for them!

We had a special dinner celebrating the occasion at their home. (Note to self...your own home is the BEST place to celebrate such an occasion)

We enjoyed many laughs as we ate,

and especially enjoyed the few serious moments when Mom and Dad stated that their most significant life accomplishments were sitting around the table with them.

The evening went late into the night with several rounds of hearts...

Happy Anniversary!

Christmas Dance Performance

2012-01-03T09:37:00.000-08:00

Our daughter has reach a pinnacle in her very young life: She is on the performing team of her dance studio.

She'll turn ten next month and for seven longs years she has dreamily watched the older girls and hoped...

She went through try-outs this summer and was so happy to learn that this year was her year!

We are very proud of her...she has come a long way from that little 3-year old who couldn't hear the beat or balance on one foot.

She is a beautiful dancer!

We adore her teacher and are pleased with the lessons that she is learning along the way.

Yeehaw!

Party Time

2012-01-03T08:56:00.000-08:00

The kids were a little disappointed this year to hear that Santa wouldn't be able to make it to our family Christmas party.

He hurt his back and just couldn't make it.

You know what....I don't think anyone noticed that he wasn't there...we had too much fun with the ones that were there.

Our St. George family came up and made the party a hit, as always!

And, of course, who doesn't have fun when Uncle Boat's around?!

Cute cousins always crank up the fun meter.

Throw in some tasty finger food,

and we had smiles all around.

New this year was a fun game led by Aunt Kelli. She read us a story about the Wright family...

everyone starts with a gift and passes it left or right when she reads "left" or "right" in the story.

It was pretty suspenseful to see which present you would end up with at "The end."

Some were very pleased!!

We were treated to a beautiful Christmas song by our talented cousin,

and then we all sang several Christmas carols as Grandma accompanied on the piano.

Followed by the chimes...

conducted by Grandma.

Christmas is coming!

Oh, Christmas Tree

2012-01-03T08:32:00.001-08:00

December 4th is the day that we always decorate our Christmas tree. We always cut it down on November 30th (except for this year when we thought November 29th was the day....oops) and then we decorate it four days later. December 4th fell on Sunday this year.

Our ward starts at 1:00, so we spent the morning before church setting up our tree. Once again, I'm grateful for older children to help my hubby with the dirty, sappy work of bringing in the tree.

Thanks to a very generous Father-in-law, this year we will be spared any tree-falling-over drama! Check out this custom-made tree stand!

Our youngest was so excited to get out the boxes of Christmas decor. He had been asking me for months when he could play with the gingerbread house. Finally!

Checking the tree lights is an essential task...better done before the lights are on the tree than after.

This year our stockings found a handy hanging spot on "Larsen's t.v." We are watching our good friends' big screen t.v. for them until Christmas so that it can be a surprise in their house....more to come later.

It is always fun to pull out the Christmas books and read them...Aunt Cristi's pop-outs are a huge favorite.

We are ready for some reindeer to arrive!

Or at least Santa's helper!

Before long the older boys had to leave to go collect fast offerings, but not before putting on a couple of decorations.

Our oldest is in charge of the upper third of the tree...an easy reach for him nowadays.

It was a joy decorating the tree this year...especially since we only had to do it once and not four times!

We are ready for Christmas!

November 29th: Christmas Tree Hunt

2011-11-30T13:54:00.000-08:00

November 29th is the day that we go Christmas tree hunting! Usually an extended-family event, this year it was just us! The kids were a bit disappointed, but they soon found out that we are a fun bunch!

We saw plenty of mule deer and I had to keep reminding the hunters in our family that we were tree hunting, not deer hunting.

We drove out a little farther than we usually do. We passed Vernon reservoir which was beautiful.

Just a mile past the reservoir we realized that we had driven out of the trees, so we turned around and headed back, but spotted several deer bedded down in the trees. Can you see them?

After awhile we made it back into the trees! The bumpy road plus some very full bladders helped us pick our spot to get out and start looking.

It was so warm outside! A light jacket is all we needed.

And so we set off...keeping in mind that our tree from last year fell over THREE times (fully-decorated) due to a very bare backside. We were in search of a symmetrical, well-balanced tree.

The older boys brought their air-soft guns and shot random things along the way. We also enjoyed crunching through the snow in the shade.

Our oldest found this tree and was quite proud of himself (note the manly flexing) until we realized that the backside was a little bare. We considered it for awhile, but decided to keep looking for a little bit longer.

During our search the kids found a few interesting sights: orange lichen on a rock,

and a pile of cow poo with mushrooms growing out of it.

We finally found a perfect symmetrical tree! There was only one problem: it was 20 feet tall. That problem didn't last long as we soon discovered that if we took the top 2/3, it would still be a great Christmas tree.

Yay!! No falling tree this year!

We had walked about 1/2 a mile in search of our tree. Fortunately, we found it on the top of the hill, so most of the trek back to the truck was downhill.

But we soon realized that we didn't know where the truck was and we wanted to cover as little ground as possible while carrying the tree. So we sent a couple kids down to the truck so we could get pointed in the right direction.

A half mile is a long ways to shout "Have you found the truck yet?"

It took all of us listening very closely to hear them yell back...we should have brought our radios!

Finally we got our bearings and headed down to the truck.

It has been 8 years since we started this tradition...it sure is nice to have kids old enough to really help.

When we got back to the truck it was 2 hours past lunch time and we were starving! We pulled out our camp chef and cooked up some hot dogs and warmed up some hot chocolate, although after carrying the tree we were hot and sweaty. (We thought it would be cold)

We had a tasty lunch on the tailgate of the truck.

After lunch we got the tree secured on the trailer and headed out.

On our way out to the highway we stopped at the infamous tree. Last year our group had a slight mishap with a 4-wheeler. As we drove by, we noticed that there was still evidence of the collision. (We are still feeling so grateful that no one was seriously hurt!)

Ouch!

On our way out, we saw a few deer off the dirt road. There was a big buck with them....

here's a closer look: a nice 4x4! A great end to our fun ~~deer~~ tree hunting adventure!

First Annual Pumpkin Bash Fund Raiser

2011-11-30T11:49:00.000-08:00

This last weekend we helped run the First Annual Pumpkin Bash Fund Raiser for the Springville Junior Rifle Club. This is the club that our boys shoot at. They are in need of some new air rifles and in order to buy them our coach came up with the idea of shooting/blowing up pumpkins. Sounds fun, right?

Well, it was! A lot of fun! But a whole lot of work went into that fun. This pile of pumpkins represents two days of back-breaking pumpkin gathering. We had a local farm donate all the pumpkins, but we had to go gather them. Along with 20 of our closest rifle club friends, we gathered 1100 pumpkins!

For 5 bucks per person, anyone could come to the outdoor range and shoot up pumpkins to their heart's content.

The key to a good pumpkin shooting is to drill a hole in the top of the pumpkin and then fill it with water. This causes the explosion. If it is empty, the pumpkin just gets a hole blow in it.

Did I mention that it was cold that morning? Frigid!! We drank hot chocolate (which we also sold at our concession stand) to help thaw us out.

We also had an outdoor heater which helped a little.

This was the first round of pumpkin targets set out.

One group put explosives in their pumpkins...see the pumpkin in the center of the picture?

Boom! We had raining pumpkin chunks for about 20 seconds!

These pumpkins have seen better days.

We also had fun with the boys' coaches' cannon. It is small,

but packs a pretty big punch.

Ouch!

We were hopeful to make a little money selling concessions...and we did. We sold hot chocolate, hot dogs, chips, and several goodies.

We ate a few too.

The girls of the club spend a lot of time together and they always seem to have a lot of fun.

In no time at all, they had a fashion show with clothes they made from garbage bags and red duct tape, they smashed about 30 pumpkins and collected the seeds, and then they had a pumpkin seed fight that would rival any mess making activity!

Here is a link to a video of the mess.

It might not work, but I will keep trying.

Thanksgiving

2011-11-30T09:58:00.000-08:00

Our Thanksgiving meal this year was delicious! As always...but it was special as well! All 46 of my husband's family (except the two in heaven) were there!

Five tables, several sets of dinnerware and silverware, and all the chairs in the house were required to make it possible for all of us to sit down together for this special dinner.

We truly have so much to be thankful for! Grandpa treated all the kids to a walk down memory lane...to when he was a kid and what thanksgiving was like for him. His family always had chicken, not turkey, for Thanksgiving. They would butcher them that morning and his mom would fry them up and they would enjoy the feast....after taking care of all the animals, of course.

We had a great time with all of our cousins. We are grateful for many, many cousins! They are our best friends!

Mmmmm.

We are grateful for many talented cooks. We had so many dishes to pick from!

This guy went back for seconds and thirds...and then kept asking when it would be time for pie.

Last year the older boys weighed themselves before and after, comparing who had eaten the most. Several pounds were gained! This year no one weighed themselves, but we saw some hungry boys devour a lot of food.

Girls too!

After the big meal we played with cousins and digested!

We caught up with everyone's comings and goings.

And hugged a few cute babies.

Sisters shared what sisters share.

Little girls played dolls.

Teenagers and Dads played video games.

And then it was finally time for pies! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving day. For family night earlier that week we played "The Thankful Game," a game that we made up last year and decided to continue this year. It's simple: a bean bag is tossed around randomly and the catcher has 3 seconds to name something he/she is thankful for. If he/she takes longer than 3 seconds or names something that has already been named, you're out. This year our game lasted about 15 minutes and Dad won (He has many animals that he enjoys hunting).

The Wyoming Deer Hunt

2011-11-30T08:45:00.000-08:00

This years' deer hunt was a huge success! As always. We spent many days getting ready, packing, and praying for decent weather. The weather cooperated and other than a little mechanical trouble on the way out, things went pretty smoothly. We have been really proud of our boys as they have mowed lawns all summer. They were able to pay for a big chunk of their deer hunt this year with their lawn-mowing money.

I'm still waiting on a few pictures, but I'll add them later. The first part of the deer hunt was spent with our good friend, Mark, and his son, Noah. Good memories were made that will live on for many years! Several big bucks were taken by this fun group:

Noah shot a big buck and so did his Dad.

This year our second oldest was old enough to shoot his first buck, and he was a dandy!

Our oldest shot a nice buck too. I'm waiting on a pic, but here is one that I took when they got home.

Four days later, Grandpa, Uncle Beau, and two cousins arrived to join the hunting party. The land owner let them hang their deer in his barn. Makes for a fun photo.

Cousin Tanner shot a big buck.

Cousin Stratten also shot a nice one.

This year Grandpa got the little fella...but was just so happy to be on the hunt with all the boys. I know the boys made memories with Grandpa that they will remember their whole lives.

The boys both bought doe tags to help fill our freezer.

My hubby shot a nice buck on the last day. He struggled a bit because he missed two bucks earlier on in the hunt and started to question his shooting ability. (Yes, it really rocked his world!) Upon close inspection, he discovered that the stock on the rifle he was using had swelled and had unseated the barrel. (Relief!) He borrowed his Dad's gun and shot this buck the next day.

The gang arrived home after 9 days of hunting! They had a wonderful time, but I was a little worried about all their missed schoolwork. However, in just a few days they were completely caught up. It took me longer to catch up on all their laundry!!

But that wasn't the only work they had to do! As a family we spent the next 3-4 days butchering four deer. We now have a freezer with 85 lbs of ground venison and 20 quart bags of steak. A successful hunt indeed.

Glasses!

2011-11-30T08:23:00.000-08:00

Last year our daughter complained that she couldn't see the chalkboard very well in class. Several of her friends had just gotten glasses and as one who pays close attention to trends, I just thought she was trying to fit in with her friends. So I let it go and figured if she really couldn't see, she would mention it again. A few days passed and it seemed to have passed.

Fast forward to this year and I received a note home from the school nurse saying that she hadn't passed the routine eye exam. Hmmm. Still a little doubting, I took her into the optometrist to settle it once and for all. Results were definitive: she does need glasses! Fortunately, her eyes aren't bad enough to wear them full-time and she only needs to wear them in a classroom setting. When it came time to pick out her frames she chose a very cute trendy style...not a surprise at all! She looks very cute and has really enjoyed being able to see!

Our Musician(s?)

2011-11-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

Between my husband and I, we have gobs of potential musically-talented genes. That's not to say that we, ourselves, have a whole lot of talent, but our children have the potential to be musically inclined. I have watched them since they were quite young, and so far, our second oldest appears to have the most naturally occurring musical ability.

Now, this isn't to say that with some work all the others have just as much potential, this is simply to say without any work, he is talented. We decided early on that we weren't going to push any of our kids into music, but if they showed an interest, we would strongly support them. I wasn't surprised last summer when he chose choir as one of his electives for Junior High. We were able to attend his first concert of the year last month and I really enjoyed watching him and remembering the joy of music! Our oldest son signed up for a guitar class for one of his electives and will be starting in January. We also have a surprise for some of our other kids who have expressed a desire to get involved...more to come about that later.

Sunday Shoes

2011-11-30T07:43:00.000-08:00

Our youngest outgrew these Sunday shoes a couple months ago. They were pretty tight on his feet and finally became too uncomfortable for him. I was a little reluctant to let them go because all of my boys have worn them. We bought them for my oldest when he was 3 and each of our boys in turn has worn them.

I heard somewhere that rather than hold onto these little keepsakes, just take a picture. So I did, and then I passed them on since they still have a lot of wear left. I tried to think about why these little shoes mean so much to me and I guess it is because of what they represent: four brothers walking in each others' footsteps. I am grateful to have an oldest son who is such a great example! I hope that he continues to walk a good path for his brothers to follow...and I hope that they each follow the path of the one ahead of them and realize that they are blazing the way for the one behind. A Mother's hopes and dreams...from a little pair of shoes.

He's Fourteen!

2011-11-28T14:04:00.000-08:00

I don't know how it happened, but all of a sudden my baby boy has turned fourteen!

We woke him up with a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday" and a pile of gifts.

With the deer hunt only a couple weeks away, he had one request: camouflage!

Camo boots are a must: last year he was wearing size 11, this year he is in size 14!

To complete the look, we got him some cold weather camo: pants and a coat.

We made him a chocolate birthday cake, but in order to prevent a fire, we decided that once you reach your teens, you go back to single digit candles.

When he got home from school that afternoon, he got dressed up in his new camo and had his brother cover him with leaves in the front yard.

You could only see his boot. He waited there quietly until his younger siblings arrived home from school and then he jumped up and scared them! We sure love our fourteen-year-old! He is a wonderful son and a loving brother.

Family Halloween Party

2011-11-28T13:18:00.000-08:00

This year Halloween was a breeze for me. Our oldest decided he was way too old to dress up and took on the roll of make-up artist.

He helped our two youngest boys get dressed up and creatively made sure they looked the part. I like this picture above because I made this Anakin costume for our oldest about six years ago.

I think we have had an Anakin or an Obi-wan every year since.

He did a great job on our boxer, who had blood, muscles, and bruises galore.

We had a fun time at our ward party this year like we always do, but, truth be known, we are really truly waiting for Aunt Kelli's Halloween party! It has become a tradition: everyone bring a soup to share;

and a scary hors d'oeuvre!

goblin mouths,

mummy apples,

witch fingers,

creepy crawly bugs,

and brains, to name a few.

Grandpa tries to scare the little kids, or the big kids...but he always scares someone!

All the kids come in costumes: check out this cute Oompa Loompa!

Nellie long-torso was a hit this year!

We always play a few games. This year the favorite was probably donut-on-a-string....who can eat it first.

No hands!!

It was easy to tell what donut they chose to eat: sprinkles,

chocolate,

and sugar.

Our youngest loved the part when Aunt Kelli let him have dessert first!

Was I the only Mom who went crazy due to sugar-high children???

We also played a game of musical plates (to Halloween music).

And a fun game of pin the spider on the web.

Bingo with candy corn was a hit!

There also was a table of goodies where we guessed the number of treats in each jar.

Our daughter guessed closest for the jar of tootsie rolls.

For dessert we had ghost pie. Ghost pie is a family tradition that started many, many years ago when Grandpa Black was still here and my husband was just a little boy. Grandpa Black couldn't resist and snuck a piece of pie before coming to a family dinner. Grandma Black thought it was tacky to bring a pie with a piece missing and was a little upset at the situation. Grandpa Black entered the kitchen and came back a few minutes later with a ghost shaped blob of whipping cream on the pie. When they arrived at the dinner, he convincingly told the grandchildren about the missing piece and the ghost shaped blob of whipping cream and how a ghost must have snuck the piece of pie. The tradition of ghost pie was born...and still lives on many years later.

A Broken Toe Can Be a Blessing

2011-11-28T12:30:00.000-08:00

Remember the agony of this?

Turns out it was a blessing in disguise, a big one! With a broken toe comes several weeks away from running which wasn't so fun. Especially considering that I missed the marathon after I put in so much time...not fun. BUT...here comes the blessing part, when one returns to running, one must take it slowly or risk re-injury or another injury altogether. During that part: the slowly getting back into it, one day my husband expressed a desire to come with me.

That's all it took!! That day I searched the classifieds, found a smoking deal on a decent bike in a nearby town and the next morning we set off together at 5:15 a.m. on our run/bike. In the following weeks I have rediscovered several truths: 1) it is more fun to run with someone than alone 2) regular meaningful conversation is so good for a marriage 3) those two big rottweilers that chase me aren't so scary anymore 4) why didn't we discover this years ago??? It has been so fun! I know that as he gets into better shape he will be riding circles around me. But even if we're together just during his warm-up and cool-down I still love his company!

So Long Fall, Hello Winter

2011-11-28T12:18:00.002-08:00

Fall has come and gone.

We have enjoyed our last rain storms,

we've searched for our last pot of gold,

and we've jumped in and crunched our last fall leaves.

Winter is here! We can't wait to go play in the snow!!

Pizza Bowl

2011-11-28T11:57:00.000-08:00

Our second oldest played his last football game of the season on a cold October evening. We're talking really cold...hats, gloves, frozen toes, daydreaming of hot chocolate, the works. His team qualified for the pizza bowl, a consolation bracket for those teams that didn't make it into the playoffs.

One thing I think our #44 has learned this season is that teamwork isn't always about winning. It is about supporting each other, doing your job, owning your mistakes, and working together to correct mistakes.

Sure, it would have been really fun for them to have won more games, but I'm kind of glad they didn't so that he could learn how to lose. It is easy to talk about losing gracefully, but another thing to really do it.

We have a talented, determined little football player. That night he caused several "hurries" by the other quarter back. He was a real team leader and I was proud of how he kept being aggressive and doing his part even when winning was out of sight.

He stuck in there and had many key tackles. I don't know if he'll choose to play next year, and until I thaw out a little I don't know if I want him to, but I'm grateful for the valuable experience he has gained...and I hope he remembers it!

Family Night: Japanese Cuisine

2011-10-04T12:01:00.000-07:00

Last week our impromptu Family Home Evening Lesson turned out great! The kids loved it and we had some great discussion. It was simple: My hubby told our kids about his mission to Japan and his time at the MTC.

As a follow up, we decided it would be fun to take the kids to an authentic Japanese restaurant so they could also have a taste of what Dad experienced for two years. So last night we headed to Provo's De Mae. First he gave them a quick lesson on using chopsticks....harder than they look.

Some gave up and used their fork, but others were persistent.

Our youngest didn't really like anything (he hated it) except for an appetizer...I forget the name, but they are basically a potato cake that is deep fried (a hashbrown).

Let's just say that most of our kids would be pretty skinny if we lived there. They tried miso soup, salad, gyozas, yakisoba, katsudon, and ramen (the real kind which doesn't really taste like ours at all).

They did like the yakisoba and some liked the katsudon, but it was definitely an eye-opening experience for them. And I didn't have to cook dinner...Yay!!

Grilled Peaches

2011-10-04T11:54:00.000-07:00

Fall is here! That means it is time for grilled peaches. Mmmm.

Wash and halve your peaches and then take out the pit. Clean your grill and heat to medium. First put your peach down flesh side first and cook for about 4 minutes. Then turn it over and stuff with filling. Filling consists of 2 cups oats, 1 cup flour, 1 cup brown sugar, and 2 cubes butter.

Cook for another 4-5 minutes until peach becomes soft and you can see the butter melting in the filling. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel topping. Enjoy!

Conference Weekend

2011-10-04T10:25:00.001-07:00

This last weekend we enjoyed a great feast!

It was general conference and we enjoyed each session as if it were a grand meal.

We listened to our prophet and the apostles speak great words of wisdom and council. Sometimes when I think about how scary our world is right now and what my children face as they grow up in it, I feel frightened. I am so grateful to have the guidance I need to prepare them and also to teach them the way of safety.

Our second oldest was excited to be able to attend the Priesthood session of conference for the first time.

He enjoyed the time with his Dad and his brother...and a tasty dinner afterwards.

Fun Run With My Fun Kids

2011-10-04T09:57:00.000-07:00

I learned something new about my kids this last week: they are fast runners!

Their elementary school has been doing red and green ribbon week, emphasizing health and safety. One morning the whole school participated in a fun run.

The fourth-sixth graders ran the first race, two laps around the school and surrounding neighborhood, equaling one mile. Our fourth grade daughter came to me that morning with a race plan.

She was going to run the first lap easily, not going out with the front runners, but then on the second lap she was really going to push it. I was really surprised that she stuck to her plan, which worked very well. She finished very strong and by the finish had worked her way right up to the front runners.

Our second grader ran against 2nd and 3rd graders. He also ran very well, maintaining a quick even pace.

He is probably our most competitive and it showed. He finished 5th and ran a 7:18 mile. Way to go!

Our kindergartner wasn't planning on running. Honestly I didn't think he would enjoy it and that if he did run it, I was sure he would stop and walk. As he watched the other kids run, he begged and begged to run too.

We hurried into the office and signed the waiver and then he was able to run in the kindergartner and first grader race. I watched closely, expecting that he would quickly get tired and walk.

No way! Those little legs ran the whole half mile and he was also right there in the front of the pack. He crossed the finish line and headed straight for the cold water. It was a fun morning for me...maybe someday in the future, I'll have some running buddies.

I'm Old!

2011-10-04T09:41:00.000-07:00

Mid-September we celebrated my birthday. It was a lovely Saturday. My husband asked me what I wanted several days prior. I knew right away! My life has been so busy lately and I really fell behind on our blog. For my birthday, I asked for one thing: time to blog without any interruptions.

So that is exactly what I got. It was wonderful. I spent the day documenting our busy August. After an early football game, my hubby took over my usual Saturday duties, transporting the boys in their lawn-mowing, cleaning the house, keeping the kids occupied and fed. It was great and felt so good to get caught up!

On a side note, just days after my birthday, I had to fill out a form that included a space with my age. I didn't realize until the next day that I put in the wrong age! And it wasn't what you would think...that I put in my age that I had just passed....no, I skipped a year, putting myself a year older than I really am. The fact that I can't even remember how old I am tells a sad tale: I'm old!

Our Football Player

2011-10-04T09:17:00.000-07:00

Our second oldest has always wanted to play tackle football. This year his dream came true.

He has been playing the last month and a half on a city league team, the Dolphins.

Originally he wanted to play running back, because he is very quick and can pretty much get away from anyone. Soon, however, he found that he is a talented defensive end. His quickness is just as valuable on defense.

And stopping the offense is a lot of fun. He has played defensive end and safety and has been a real asset to his team.

He has gotten some good advice from his coaches and also his Dad as he learns how to respond to different offensive plays.

We have spent several evenings a week at the football field. It has been enjoyable for our whole family to come support him.

Our oldest often helps out with the chain gang.

Our football player has learned some valuable lessons from his time on the field.

Only two weeks left...

Canning

2011-10-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

For me, September has been a month spent canning. This year I have enjoyed the work, but it has also been very tiring and I'm ready to be done.

Applesauce, pears, salsa, relish, strawberry and apricot jam have taken up many days... and late nights.

It is a good feeling to have a stocked pantry...overflowing into the kitchen. I would still like to do some corn and maybe some peaches, but for today...I'm done!

One More Summer Adventure

2011-10-04T08:19:00.000-07:00

Yes, school has started, but that doesn't mean that we can't run up the canyon for a last-minute summer camp out!

That's exactly what we did the second weekend of September with our extended family.

With a little help we had the tents up ready for a restful (or not so restful) slumber in the woods.

Girl cousins like to stay up late chatting!

Grandma froze! Our second day of camping turned into a huge downpour...

which we tried to wait out, but finally decided to head back to Grandma's house and watch the BYU game....after the game we headed back up for another restful slumber.

Our youngest had the breakfast of champions: grapes and soda pop! Hey, when you're camping, anything goes.

The rest of us enjoyed sausage, french toast, fruit....the works!

When this guy arrived, the party really got started!

When camping, cute faces like these are proof that we are having fun.

And cups of giant slugs are proof the boys are also having fun.

Other fun activities include: science homework (insect catching),

begging for treats,

playing in the dirt,

chatting with Grandma,

and watching Grandpa cook in the dutch oven.

But that's not all, we also spend plenty of time in the creek

and many hours playing card games.

Yet, I think the most looked-forward to event is:

a tasty steak dinner with corn on the cob and dutch oven potatoes.

Food tastes best up the canyon with family!

Broken

2011-09-27T09:15:00.000-07:00

30 days from the start of the St. George marathon, I encountered a big setback. The cause of the setback could be seen as humorous, the result, though, has me in tears.

Our youngest likes to come snuggle between us in the morning...on this fateful morning my foot was in the way and met his knee on it's way to his warm snuggling spot. I guess it's just not meant to be this year.

Unexpected Farewell

2011-09-27T08:19:00.000-07:00

The week after school started, I found myself elbow deep in salsa and relish....with pears and applesauce waiting next up to bat. And then the phone rang. It was my sister calling to let me know that Grandma was in the hospital...

diagnosed with leukemia and a very weak heart, she was going downhill very quickly and wasn't expected to last more than a couple days.

I was able to drive up to the hospital in Ogden with my youngest sister and her husband (who had just returned from their honeymoon and were headed to their Bend reception). We were able to say goodbye to her and hug aunts and uncles and cousins. My Dad quickly drove down from Oregon to be with his Mom in her final days. She was waiting for him.

She passed away the next day as her heart gradually slowed and finally stopped beating. I was there when she left this life. It was peaceful and calm, but it has been hard for me to sort through all of my emotions. I am so happy that she is now reunited with Grandpa and her parents. I know it was a joyful reunion! I feel a deep loss now that they are both gone. Some days it really hurts. Yet, I feel them near and I'm grateful for their legacy and gift of example to me. I feel a great responsibility to continue building the strong legacy they started...a legacy of family, faith, service, and love.

Back to School

2011-09-27T07:35:00.000-07:00

The beginning of school this year came all too quickly. We were so busy toward the end of summer that we barely had time to prepare...

but we were able to get everyone ready in time. This year is a monumental year for me. All my kids are in school. Even my baby. He goes to kindergarten for half a day. He is loving it...I have been so busy that I haven't had time to realize that I am alone. This year the two older boys are together again in Junior High, in 7th and 8th grade. Where has the time gone???

Wedding Day

2011-09-20T16:13:00.001-07:00

My sister's wedding day was wonderful!

She and her husband were sealed for time and all eternity in the Manti, Utah temple.

The married couple.

Congratulations from my brother

Reminiscing on the proposal...

Mr. and Mrs.

Proud family and friends

My family

After the wedding we headed to city hall for a catered dinner and short program.

The food was delicious...

and the tributes were heart-felt.

My parents are officially empty-nesters!

The happy/goofy couple

And they're off!

The Bachelorette Party

2011-09-20T15:32:00.000-07:00

The final evening before the wedding we threw a family (girls only) bachelorette party for my sister.

We started the evening with a few gifts to open (ones that could be opened in front of nieces).

The nieces got a few party favors...which included nail polish...

which they used to paint her toenails.

Fingernails too, of course.

Beautiful nails for the wedding!

Next we left all the kids with the dads and headed out to dinner where the real bachelorette party got started...

Other gifts were opened...and advice was given. The kind only sisters can give! We had a really fun time! I'm sure it was an evening we will all remember for a very long time!

I have the best sisters and mom in the world!

Family Fun

2011-09-20T15:20:00.001-07:00

The week before the wedding was full of lots of fun activities and outings, but we also had a great time just hanging out.

We caught up with Oregon cousins on the tramp.

We got in several good rounds of hearts.

Coloring is always fun...

something you never outgrow!

A fun game of BANG! with the groom to be.

Napoleon Dynamite....although I think they were too tired to laugh!

The dads caught up on all the latest hunts, cool gadgets, political debate...and whatever else dads talk about.

Grandma and Grandpa enjoyed the time with all the cute kids.

A Splashing Good Time

2011-09-20T14:35:00.001-07:00

With our family in town we decided to head up to the reservoir for the afternoon.

We enjoyed a quick picnic on the beach and then jumped in!

the older boy cousins

a floating seat

my cute niece

our Cheetos champ

a pink one, of course

It was my sister's last day of being a single woman!

Catch!

Grandpa capturing every cute grand kid moment.

King of the floating log!

Bringing the log closer to shore so that all could enjoy.

My sister and my youngest niece

Everyone got a turn on the log!

Girl talk!

Boys warming up in the hot sand.

Swimming With Cousins

2011-09-19T14:57:00.000-07:00

After we hiked Y Mountain we headed to the pool to cool down!

We took turns on the slide, the diving board, and of course, we did lots of splashing!

These two cute cousins are only 2 weeks apart.

It was fun to get reacquainted with cousins we only see once a year...last time we saw this little guy, he was the baby.

The water cannons were a hit!

These two are two little fish!

We love our cousins!

Hiking Y Mountain with Cousins

2011-09-19T14:28:00.000-07:00

We planned several fun activities during the week of the wedding. The first activity was hiking Y mountain.

My sister and her husband went to BYU many years ago and wanted their kids to experience the hike. We arrived first with Grandpa and kept watch for them to reach the trail head.

It was a joyous reunion of cousins!
The kids were excited to reach the Y.

It isn't very far up, but lots of switch backs and steep terrain make for a sweaty hike!

We had shade at the beginning, but soon the sun came out and it got hot!

My sister could be a real pioneer...she carried her baby (who slept the whole way) all the way to the top.

We took advantage of every bench to rest and take pictures.

My brother-in-law soon became the carrier of tired little legs.

"Thanks, Dad!"

Sometimes a helping hand on either side helped a tired one reach the top of the next switchback.

Cute cousins!

Girl power!

Another set of tired legs.

We finally reached a point were we could see the end of the trail!

Success!

A gorgeous view from the top.

The cousins!

My sister's family

Strong conquerors of the mountain!

The walk downhill was much easier!

Getting to hold Grandpa's hand on the way down was pretty cool! What a fun hike!

Bridal Shower

2011-09-19T14:16:00.000-07:00

The week of my sister's wedding was a busy one! Most of my family was in town and it felt like we had one party right after another!

The first party was a bridal shower for my sister that my aunt hosted.

The young nieces were excited that they were invited. I know that they idolize my sister and were honored to feel grown-up enough to come to her bridal shower.

We had a great turnout! Most of my aunts and many of my cousins were able to come. Several traveled far to be there. Both of my Grandmas were able to attend which was so nice, especially since my Grandma passed away just two weeks later.

We spent lots of time visiting and eating...

and watching gifts being opened.

Lots of good advice was shared.

Along with many cute gifts!

Bridal Photos

2011-09-17T17:07:00.000-07:00

My sister must have liked how the engagement photos turned out because she asked me to take some bridal pics too! We didn't have near as much time to take them, but in the short time we had, we did get a few good ones:

I am glad that I had the chance to take my sister's wedding pictures. It was an honor to be asked and I really am grateful for the fun times we had taking them!

Announcements

2011-09-17T16:55:00.001-07:00

I had lots of fun coming up with announcement ideas. Here are a few options they had to choose from:

Here are the announcements that they chose:

These were the two inserts

This was the back.

This was the front.

I like how they turned out and I really had a lot of fun figuring out how to make wedding announcements. It was a lot of work, but I'm pleased with the results!

Love is in the Air!

2011-09-17T16:24:00.000-07:00

My youngest sister has been staying with us for the summer. My wedding gift to her and her husband was to take their engagement photos and make their wedding announcements...something that is easy to say and much harder to do! I learned a lot...here are a few of my favorites:

Summer Fun

2011-09-17T15:58:00.000-07:00

Summer is fun because we have the chance to be spontaneous! Sometimes the funnest activities aren't planned, they just happen.

A special treat was when Uncle Trevor brought over his new motorcycle.

Dad got to take everyone for a ride!

Fun is always nearby when Dad goes outside to play with the kids.

A quick game of 500 is one of our favorites!

It's always very competitive too!

A daddy/daughter date with some friends was really fun! They got to shoot archery and lasso cows...and of course, eat bbq.

Some of our greatest fun was a surprise trip to our neighbor's family pool to cool off.

The rope swing is his favorite!

Summer is always full of fun!!!!

Swim Team and County Meet

2011-09-17T15:33:00.001-07:00

Our two oldest trained and competed with our city swim team this summer. Waking up at 5:30 a.m. wasn't so fun, but competing well in the meets made it all worth it!

Our summer was pretty busy so it was a challenge to make our schedule work with the meet schedule.

To qualify for the county meet, a swimmer must swim a certain time and must also compete in at least two meets.

They competed in exactly two meets....

and both of them swam times fast enough for the gold county meet, the meet for the fastest swimmers.

This guy is our breaststroke specialist...he goes like lightning!

He also competed on the freestyle relay, along with 3 other fast swimmers.

The county meet was pretty intense. Our oldest competed in the backstroke...got off to a great start!

He finished fifth in the county.

He also competed in the 50 freestyle and the 50 breaststroke.

He finished 5th in the freestyle and 6th in the breaststroke.

We had some great seats on the upper level...and right next to the air conditioning.

Our second oldest competed in the 50 breaststroke and the 50 freestyle. He also swam a fast third leg in the 200 freestyle relay. He finished 5th in th 50 breaststroke, 12th in the 50 freestyle, and his relay team finished 3rd. It was a great meet!

This sign gave us a few good laughs!

The haul from the summer!

Family Night at the Indoor Range

2011-09-17T14:27:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite family night activities is to head down to the indoor range for some target practice.

Dad is great at giving instructions to the younger ones.

Our daughter is an old pro!

I took a turn too!

His rifle needed some TLC.

This guy is serious about his eye dominance!

Our oldest got in a few good targets.

Our up and coming shooter!

Splash Pad

2011-09-17T14:11:00.000-07:00

July is a hot month in Utah! Thankfully our town has a really fun splash pad to cool down in at North Park.

One hot day we went down as a family to cool off.

The water was cold and felt great!

Pretty soon the kids got creative: a water beard and a belly wash...

the power bum wash...first sitting down,

then standing up...

the boys' favorite: "Look Mom, I'm peeing!!"

And last but not least: kicking, hitting, punching, a REAL water fight!

We all had a great time.

Dad asked our daughter to get his hat wet for him. She tried it on for size...perfectly wet!

"This is soooo fun, Mom!"

I had to go and dip in my toe too!

Warming up on the hot cement. We know where to come next time we are burning up!

Family Olympics

2011-09-17T12:39:00.000-07:00

A long, long time ago....

when these two cuties ...

were this old, we had a family Olympics. It was a hit!! It has been relived, reminisced about, and longed for.... and finally this July, the Olympics returned!

There is a new batch of youngsters ...

who haven't yet experienced the emotions of Family Olympics.

It was the older ones' duty to take the younger cousins and show them the way...

the older boys taught the young ones the art of flexing...

they're still learning!

This Family Olympics business is serious stuff! The crowd really gets into it and even reserves seating!

Finally he Opening Ceremonies began with the Olympic Anthem and the parade of athletes...

who were eager to start and feeling some butterflies with all the excitement in the air!

The first event was a backyard footrace

and they're off!

There were some tight finishes...

Heat two was a tough bunch!

The next event was for the little ones: Grandpa built a balance beam!

We saw feats of balance...

and skill...

The audience was mesmerized!

The next event was the high jump.

Some were graceful,

and others were going for style points!

Next was the long jump:

Some of the long-legged ones really had an advantage,

but everyone gave it their all.

There were some very proud parents!!!

The final event was the shot put...which was cut short by a lack of safe areas to throw a big rock...but was still quite fun.

Finally, the judges tallied up all the scores and winners were announced:

The awards were coveted by all...

and real gold!

Everyone was a winner!

The special awards were custom designed!

These two won some Jedi awards.

Yay for our awesome athletes!

Grandpa was a great spectator!

After the awards we played some games...limbo was first.

The older cousins really got into this one...

and surprisingly our 6 ft 7 inch cousin was in the final two.

But this guy was the winner!

Our next game was really exciting...be the last one standing with your balloon and you're the winner.

No cheating!

Ready....pop!

Use whatever tactic that works!

Our little guy was one of the last ones standing.

Last, but most looked forward to, the athletes had a grand water fight!

It was a splashing good time!

All got thoroughly soaked! And isn't that how all good fun ends? A good water fight! We can hardly wait for the next Family Olympics!

Fishing

2011-09-17T12:11:00.000-07:00

On the 24th of July, instead of fighting the crowd at the parade, we headed out to a nearby fish pond with the cousins.

The kids were excited to catch a fish, especially when they could see them swimming around.

It turned out to be a pretty tough day to fish, they weren't biting that much, but with some patience, we had some success. Even Dad caught one!

A fish is a fish no matter how small!

He caught a good-sized one!

Our youngest wanted one so badly! He tried and tried...

and finally hooked one!

Our second oldest is not the most patient one in our bunch...he has a time limit of about 20 seconds, but he also learned that fishing is not something one can hurry.

He finally hooked a little one too.

Our daughter waited and waited...

a little one finally found her worm to be tasty! And she was thrilled.

The cousins who came also had lots of fun...Hudson caught the first fish out of our bunch...and his first fish ever.

Preslee caught a big one!! She has the patience to wait for a big one to bite.

Cousin Quin caught the biggest fish of the day...a fat rainbow. He was tickled and could hardly hold onto it! We had a great day at the pond!

4th of July Celebration

2011-09-17T11:51:00.000-07:00

In our family, patriotism is a serious business! My husband has one sister in particular who loves the 4th of July, and actually the whole month of July. It is her favorite holiday of the year....I remember her saying that she has more 4th of July decor than she has Christmas decorations. Needless to say, we celebrate this holiday with a big party!

A quick perusal of the attendees will show our team spirit for the

good ol' US of A!

Red, white and blue BLING!

A work of art made with colored duct tape...a proud centerpiece!

And of course, the toenails....the best place to display what team you're on.

The hands down crowd favorite is Aunt Cristi's red, white, and blue chocolate covered popcorn. It is delicious...and addicting. It is always a challenge to the 4th of July party-goers to save room for bbq and not fill up on the popcorn!

This year hamburgers were on the menu...and they did not disappoint.

We played with all the cousins...

The hubby got in on the grillin'...

and even though the clouds were threatening rain, the kids decided to get wet in the sprinklers...a brain freeze is always the proper way to show your budding manhood!

Of course, the sprinkler under the tramp is the older cousin's way of getting wet.

We played,

we ate,

and we chatted up a storm. Happy 4th of July!

Family Night at the Range

2011-07-28T16:51:00.000-07:00

The recipe for a successful family night: special guests;

a lesson;

a goal;

temptation successfully overcome;

everyone getting a turn;

practical application of the lesson;

daddy's input;

a variety of

scenarios;

happy guests;

and last, but certainly not least, treats!

Adults Only

2011-07-28T16:36:00.000-07:00

I suppose when a couple has eight children they quickly learn the importance of adult time, otherwise known as fun without kids. Not necessarily romantic time, although that is nice too, but it is fun to just be around other adults, eat adult food (steak instead of hot dogs), and enjoy adult conversation.
Now that their eight kids are grown up, my in-laws get to enjoy their adult time with their kids and their kids' spouses. We have so much fun!!

We entertain each other with stories from the past,

we eat fantastic food hot off the grill,

and we play many rounds of hearts (all without kids)!

Have you ever played hearts with two decks of cards? It is pretty fun!

When you have a bad hand, it gets pretty bad quickly...

but somehow it doesn't even matter! We all have a gut-busting laugh and deal the cards yet again.

Fish Can Swim

2011-07-28T16:04:00.000-07:00

Our little trouts had lots of fun this summer at swim lessons. They each passed their level and got signed off to move onto the next level next summer. The last day of their lessons ended with a day of adventure on the water slide and the diving board.

Our youngest was eager to try the diving board...until he got out on the edge and looked down.

He stood on it for three minutes and no amount of encouragement, prodding, or cheering could get him to jump.

He was a little sad, but was consoled by his big sister.

I didn't think he would go down the slide, but his teacher told him he would go down with him and then he felt okay about it...but look at his face, I don't know if he really enjoyed it until he reached the bottom.

I was grateful he had such a kind, gentle teacher.

This is our daughter's last year of swim lessons. Next year she will do swim team with the older boys. She celebrated with a fancy jump off the diving board.

Our Star Wars fan just loves the water. He has no fear and can swim pretty well for a little guy. He really enjoyed the two weeks of swim lessons and wished it wasn't over so quickly!

A Real Pain in the Behind

2011-07-28T15:36:00.001-07:00

You remember this fun summer destination? Yep, the reservoir. We have spent many fun afternoons here this summer. The week after the boys returned from scout camp we headed to the reservoir to go fishing.

Our second oldest had to catch one more fish to complete his fishing merit badge. Besides catching, cleaning, cooking, and eating one fish, he also had to catch and release a fish.

Somehow I erased all the pictures I took while fishing. We had a fantastic time! The one necessary fish was caught and released...and several more were caught and eaten for dinner that evening. We had a lot of fun...so much fun that we went again the next day.

Now, if you look carefully at the pictures of the reservoir you will see that it is surrounded by a concrete dike that slopes down toward the water. It is a hazard! Here's why: if one should happen to put one's foot slightly in the water, one will slip on the very, very slick slime and fall on one's butt and slide right down into the reservoir...and not just a little slide, you won't stop sliding until you are neck deep. Each of the kids fell in (some may have been on purpose, but that's not my point) ... we watched no less than five other people fall in that day. I should have taken notice!

After baiting a worm on one of the fishing lines, I walked down to the water to rinse off my fingers. Unknowingly, I put a toe into the water, slipped and fell down hard on my behind...and started the inevitable slide. Our oldest was right next to me and I started yelling for him to grab me, which he did...all I could think of was my cell phone in my pocket that was going to get all wet. It didn't, but the damage was already done. After he pulled me up out of the water I realized right away that something was bad because I couldn't move...not good! The prognosis: I have a broken behind. My tailbone is fine, but I have broken my sacrum...it has been four weeks now and it still hurts. I took 2 and 1/2 weeks off marathon training which has been a real bummer, but mostly it is a real pain to have a painful behind! If you happen to go up to the reservoir, beware!

A Visit from My Parents

2011-07-12T14:29:00.000-07:00

Prior to and during our week of Summer Games my parents came down from Oregon to visit.

They had several reasons for coming: to meet with and discuss wedding plans with my sister's future in-laws, visit with their siblings and mothers, to attend the ordination, to help my sister get her wisdom teeth pulled, and to attend a family reunion....and of course to see us too!

It was pretty neat that they were able to get so much done in one trip!

My poor sister had to have three wisdom teeth pulled. It went fairly well. Other than struggling with nausea for a couple of days, she really healed quickly and only looked like a chipmunk for a day or two.

My kids love to visit with my parents. Grandma is a fantastic listener and makes each of her grand kids feel important, special, and capable.

They brought with them my sister's wedding dress and we all oohed and aahed as she modeled it for us. The meeting with the future in-laws was productive as well.

The kids loved helping Grandma and Grandpa set up their beds!

Our youngest thinks all of Grandpa's gadgets and tools are the coolest things ever! Poor Grandpa was a real sport and was pestered, followed around, and mimicked all week.

It was really special for me to go to my Dad's side of the family, family reunion. I really come from amazing ancestors. It was neat to hear him read the testimony of his Grandma Christensen.

Grandma helped the kids plant a winter squash seed on the deck. It is huge now!! They faithfully water it every day!

Grandma is the funnest game-player ever and she endured dozens of games of hearts, spoons, speed, and old-maid. We loved having them visit and can't wait to see them again next month for my sister's wedding.

Scout Camp

2011-07-12T13:51:00.001-07:00

The day after the ordination (Yes, somehow most of our summer's activities got squished into two weeks), our two oldest boys left for their week long campout with the scouts.

They headed back down to the same area we had just left while at the Summer Games. The boys joked that if they didn't need to be home for the ordination that they would have just stayed in Cedar city.

The boys have some very awesome scout leaders. This year's camp was pretty special with hikes and adventures, but also lots of spiritual learning and growth.

Their hikes took them through some scenic areas.

In some places it is a dry, harsh desert,

yet just around the bend is a beautiful waterfall!

Do you know any boy who can resist a cool swim to escape the dust and heat??

Or, more accurately, a chance to show off in front of his friends!?

The boys especially had fun earning their fishing merit badge.

Our second oldest felt a lot of satisfaction catching a fish on his new rod.

Part of the merit badge was catching, cleaning, cooking, and eating their own fish. It was a group project and the scouts caught a lot of fish.

They also earned their canoeing merit badge. I don't have any pictures of that, but the boys have stories to tell! It was a cold lake with a strong cross wind and they really had to work hard and work together to earn this merit badge.

They had a really fun week with the leaders and the scouts in our ward! We were glad they had so much fun, but I was happy when they returned home!

Even if they spent a couple days on the couch...

recovering from all the fun.

Birthday and Ordination

2011-07-12T13:22:00.000-07:00

It was a real whirl-wind weekend for us right after Summer Games! The very next day was a very special day in our family because it was the day that our second oldest was ordained a deacon.

He is a real jokester sometimes and he brings lots of joy to our family. He definitely takes after his father!

But he also takes after his Dad in another way! He is sensitive to the Spirit and very tender-hearted. I am so proud of the young man that he is and the Priesthood holder that he is becoming.

It is a real treat to have two honorable deacons in our home!

To celebrate the milestone, after the ordination we had our family over for an ice-cream and brownie bar. It was delicious!

We got to visit,

and have yummy treats.

It was fun to see our Cedar City cousins again.

We are so blessed to have family so close! It was really special to have both Grandpas, several Uncles, our Bishop, an older cousin, and close friends participate in the ordination.

Thanks to all who came, both near and far!

We love and appreciate you all!

We did finally pull out his birthday gifts...I didn't have time to wrap them, but he didn't seem to mind. He received several things that he would need for his week-long scout camp which he left for the next morning.

And some spending money!

A few days after he returned from Scout camp we were able to take him out for his birthday dinner with Mom and Dad.

He chose Cafe Rio! It was delish!

Summer Games: High Power Matches

2011-07-11T10:47:00.001-07:00

For the final day of Summer Games we headed over to the high power range. For this competition the shooters shoot at targets 200 yards away.It makes for quite a workout to walk down and back each round to score the targets.

I got to help add up all the scores.

The younger kids had lot of fun too!

My husband helped a lot with locating shots to help the competitors know if they needed to adjust their sights.

The Service High Power Match is a lot of fun. The competitors start with slow standing (ten shots in ten minutes), then move to rapid sitting (ten shots in 70 seconds), then rapid prone (ten shots in 60 seconds) and finally slow prone (20 shots in 20 minutes).

It really is a lot of fun because it is so different from precision .22 shooting. Our boys shot their AR-15s in this match.

This year our oldest had a quest! Last year he took second by one point! The year before that he took second by two points. This year he felt pretty sure he could jump ahead.

Both boys shot very well!

Our oldest won clearly with an 11 point lead over second place.

Our second oldest won the silver in the Junior category.

At the very end of Summer Games a special award is given. All scores from all the matches are added together to come up with an overall score from all the shooting competitions. The Rifleman award is given in honor of Adam Warnock who passed away last year. Our oldest was thrilled to earn that award this year. Summer Games was our big family vacation this summer break and we really had a marvelous time with many memories made and fun times with good friends and family.

Summer Games: BBQ/Egg-Shoot/Birthday Boy

2011-07-07T16:00:00.000-07:00

After our mine adventure we came back to the outdoor range and enjoyed a tasty bbq with my sister and her family.

It was really fun to get to spend time with them. They really live in a beautiful place.

I have the cutest nieces!

And sister!

After dinner, the party started! Every year at the end of the shooting season, our rifle club has an egg shoot. Since Summer Games signals the end of the season, our coach decided to have the egg shoot at Summer Games this year.

The egg shoot involves lots of eggs...

lots and lots of eggs,

and lots of shooting.

Everyone joins in!

Check out the egg yolk!

The little ones had so much fun...breaking an egg is an immediate reward that you hit what you were aiming at!

This guy tried and tried and finally broke 2 eggs!

There were a variety of shooting styles: his favorite was emptying his magazine in a matter of seconds. No eggs were safe!

I even got a chance to break a few!

Towards dusk, we brought out the shotguns. Many eggs were shattered and even a few bottles of milk. Tons of fun!

After the egg shoot, my awesome sister brought out a cake that she had made for our second-oldest.

We sang and celebrated his birthday that was hours away in the morning.

He also received a few fun gifts from our good friends. It was a fun end to an even funner day!

Summer Games: Mine Exploration

2011-07-07T15:17:00.000-07:00

This is our fourth year attending the Summer Games shooting competition just outside of Cedar City. We love the area, it is a rugged desert with lots of personality.

It is also an area rich in iron and there is lots of evidence of previous mining efforts and booming industry.

Thanks to my sister and brother-in-law, this year we got to explore an adventure that is only about ten minutes away from the outdoor range.
Down a dusty dirt road is a gigantic old iron pit-mine that has since been abandoned and has slowly filled with water.

First of all I must explain my extreme fear of heights. It is an unreasonable, yet uncontrollable fear that I get whenever I am near an extreme edge... with loved ones. I am not afraid for myself, but I cannot stand to see someone I care about near the edge. I get paralyzed, sweaty, and my heart-rate goes through the roof. It is all I can do to keep myself from going into complete meltdown!

With that said, I had a very, very hard time getting up the courage to going down the tiny, bumpy, precarious road that winds down into this mine. Can you see our friends' white suburban on the road? Yes, with much prodding I conceded in letting us go down...but my eyes were closed the whole time!! And I may or may not have had to make a pit stop to avoid a wet seat!

Once I was able to get over my near death experience, it really was a beautiful, interesting landscape.

Although the precarious parking may or may not have been another setback for me.

(view from the precarious parking)

Once we made it to the water, the kids couldn't resist a chance to dip in their toes...and eventually their whole bodies.

We saw a few fish, a few butterflies, and a few rusted out wrecked cars...

which sure didn't help me on the way back up and out!

It is an experience that I'm grateful for, but also one I'm grateful to be done with. I sure felt a lot better once we were a safe distance away from the edge!

Summer Games: The Shoot-Off

2011-07-07T14:16:00.000-07:00

Based on the results from the Three-Position Match, the top six competitors qualify to compete in an Olympic-Style shoot-off.

The shoot-off is fun because each shot is announced and each competitor knows his standing throughout the ten-shot match.

Our oldest was the top qualifier and, once again, felt the pressure. One common mistake in shooting is when a competitor cross-fires. This means that he shoots on the target of someone next to him (mistaking it for his own target). This may seem like a no-brainer, but it happens all the time, even at the Olympics.

Our oldest began the shoot-off with a cross-fire (which means he received a big fat zero!) He was a bit rattled, but settled down and quickly got right back into it. Over the next nine shots he fought his way from last place back to the top three.

His teammate Riley won.

Our oldest ended up winning the bronze medal and came short of tying for the silver by one point. He said of all the medals he won at Summer Games this year that one meant the most to him because he had to really work hard and mentally stay tough in a bad situation. He gained a lot of experience and it was fun to watch!

Summer Games: Three Position Match

2011-07-07T13:54:00.000-07:00

The second day of competition we awoke to cloudy skies and temperatures in the fifties.Fifties is cold with a bit of a breeze!

The boys were grateful for once (because usually it is sweaty and hot) for their precision gear. It helped them stay warm.

The three position match begins with prone position,

followed by standing,

and finally kneeling.

While the boys were out braving the cold, the younger ones enjoyed "The Tooth Fairy" inside the trailer.

At the end of the match our 12-year-old captured the silver medal in the sub-junior category.

And our oldest won the gold!

Summer Games: Air Rifle Match

2011-07-07T13:25:00.000-07:00

After a quick lunch we jumped in the truck and headed 15 miles north to the Air Rifle Match.

A few of the kids totally zonked on the way there!

But soon they were wide awake and ready for the match.

Our oldest is the defending champ from last year and was feeling a little pressure. However from last year to this year he has improved so much, he felt pretty confident that if he shot well, he could get it done.

Air Rifle is pretty tough. The targets they shoot at are very small and require a lot of precise shooting. The first year our second oldest shot at Summer Games he couldn't finish the match because his arms got so tired that he couldn't go on...he was only nine years old, but he has really come a long way in three years!

We got a fun treat when my sister and her cute family showed up to cheer on our boys. We had a really fun visit.

And the cousins got lots of playing time outside on the lawn.

New this year to the Air Rifle Match was an Olympic-style shoot-off for the top six competitors.

Our oldest competed as the top qualifier...there is a bit of added pressure which caused him to falter on his first of ten shots (he shot a four), but he fought his way back with some very solid shooting to win the silver medal.

Medals were given the following day. Our oldest won the Gold Medal in the Air Rifle overall.

And our 12-year-old continued his streak of golds by winning the sub-junior category.

Summer Games: Sporter Rifle Match

2011-07-07T12:41:00.001-07:00

The second match of Summer Games was the Sporter Rifle Match. Don't for a second think that the rest of us weren't having fun!

My hubby loves the shooting sports! He was definitely in his element and really enjoyed being able to help with the matches.

Our daughter has recently gotten into bracelet making. I think she made bracelets for almost everyone there...well, her favorites anyway.

Our youngest has "asking" (a.k.a. begging) down to an art. He comes up with all kinds of treats and treasures. All the kids had plenty of friends to play with.

The sporter rifle match is different from the others because they don't shoot precision rifles and they aren't allowed to wear any of the precision gear...they basically wear what they would if they were out hunting...thus the sporter rifle match.

The wind was very blustery and it started to get hot out, but the shooting kept going!

One of our favorite parts about Summer Games is the chance for our boys to rub shoulders with some of Utah's finest riflemen. They really are fantastic role-models and I'm glad that my boys take any advice they are given very seriously.

Soon the match was over, the targets were scored (I helped score this year), and the results were announced.

Our oldest took the silver medal in the overall.

And once again, our 12-year-old won the gold medal in the sub-junior category.

Summer Games : English Match

2011-07-07T12:24:00.000-07:00

The first day of competition began with the English match.

It's an all prone match that involves a lot of patience and expertise at reading the wind.

The boys were excited to begin,

so was their father, who ran this match so that the boys' coach could compete in it too.

The boys both shot very well.

A great start to the day!

Our oldest won the bronze in the overall.

And our 12-year-old won the gold in the sub-junior category. This was just the beginning to our first day of competition! We still had two matches to go: our day at the range began at 6:30 am. and competition ended around 10:00 p.m. that night. Needless to say, we fell into bed and didn't roll over once all night!

Summer Games Part I

2011-07-07T10:59:00.000-07:00

Our trip down to Cedar City for the Utah Summer Games was a blast this year, as always!

However, our experience this year was a little different than in past years because we decided to rent an r.v. and camp at the outdoor range with all our friends.

This year we enjoyed indoor lunch eating,

a little movie watching on some lazy mornings,

Several games of capture the flag in cowboy town (pistol range).

Lots of lizard hunting,

and rabbit hunting,

and lizard catching by the little boys,

plenty of outdoor grillin'!

Food always tastes better outside...never before has regular old taco soup been eaten with as much appreciation!

We've decided we really enjoy the convenience of an r.v. right at the competition! It definitely helps when encountering last minute projects,

or dusty, stinky, dirty children! Check out the dirt that was left after a round of showers.

The biggest convenience was that we didn't have to wake up at the break of dawn to be at the range at 6:45. We simply rolled out of bed about 6:30 and let the little ones keep snoring.

We enjoyed an early morning sighting of a mother turkey and her four poults. (Kind of hard to see, but they are there!)

The icing on the cake: the breath-taking sunsets we enjoyed each evening!

They were heavenly! We are all in agreement that r.v. travel/camping is the way to experience Summer Games! We are already planning next year!

Memorial Day Weekend Get-Away

2011-06-21T13:13:00.001-07:00

Memorial weekend this year was a real adventure for our family!

We went camping! However, this wasn't any regular camping trip. With rain, wind, and possible snow on the forecast, we went camping to Grandma and Grandpa's house!

They were gone to New York and so we got to escape to their house for a relaxing weekend. We enjoyed fun treats,

played with their cute dogs,

and a fun sleepover downstairs! We played Wii, watched lots of movies,

and enjoyed a tasty barbecue!

The best part of it for me was to pick a good book from Grandma's library and sit down for an afternoon of reading...one of my favorite hobbies that I rarely get to do!

We woke up Memorial Day morning to snow...and we were grateful we were indoors camping rather than outdoors!

We bundled up and headed to the cemeteries to visit the graves of our loved ones.

For the younger ones, it is a chance to hear stories about family members they never met! I hope that we can share our memories with them.

While they are no longer with us, they are a big influence in our lives and I think that we get to know them by learning how we are all alike.

We have given each of our children a connection to their ancestors through their names. While our daughter never met her great aunt, they share much in common.

I love meeting together at the cemetery!

In my mind, each flower represents the hugs that we will share when we are reunited.....

each one will be unique and beautiful!

True to the weather pattern this year, our visit to the cemetery was interrupted with a fast and furious hailstorm...

it was short-lived, but produced quite a bit of the white stuff!

We ended this fun weekend with a picnic....inside!

Hiking

2011-06-21T12:09:00.001-07:00

The weather is finally warming up! Everything is green and Mother Nature has been welcoming us outdoors.

So we have gone on a couple of nearby hikes up above the reservoir. All the rain really has made everything so green, at some places we felt like we were in a rain forest!

Our first hike was just a short one to a viewpoint above Spanish Fork.

The view was amazing and it was a fun way to introduce my sister to this wonderful valley that we call home.

We took a few minute to try to find landmarks...but it was kind of hard, our little town is bigger than we thought!

After a quick pose at the top,

and an encounter with a little brown toad,

we headed back down.

"Mom, can we walk by the reservoir for a second...we promise to not get wet!" I should have known better!

We stopped by a park for some lunch in the shade,

under a good climbing tree.

Just a few days later we returned to the same trail head, but went up the opposite fork to hike up to a big cross that commemorates the first settlers to our town.

It was also a really fun hike, a little steeper at some places, but the views were beautiful!

This cross looks really tiny up on the mountain, but up close, it is quite big.

The hike back down went quickly...

this time we planned for a quick dip in the reservoir! However, we soon found out that it is still very COLD!!

So rather than swim, we waded around,

had a popsicle on the beach,

and played in the sand. We are so happy that summer has finally arrived!

Learning to Work

2011-06-21T11:54:00.001-07:00

At the beginning of this summer our oldest two boys went around our neighborhood looking for lawns to mow...they found five people willing to give them a try. It has been a real blessing in their lives as they are learning responsibility, budgeting, and how to put work before play time.

To be truthful, it has been a little cramping to my weekend mornings (since I am the transportation), but I am finding that having them be able to pay for all their summer activities is worth the inconvenience! Between scout camp, swim team, summer games, youth conference, and all the required gear, the price tag is hefty.

It has been rewarding for them to earn their own money and they really take pride in the job they do...every time we drive by a home where they mow, the comment is "Mom, look how nice that lawn looks!"

I get to mow their lawns this week while they are at scout camp...lucky me!! They gave me detailed instructions and told me to make sure to do a good job...I hope I can live up to their expectations!!

End of the School Year

2011-06-10T10:39:00.001-07:00

It seems as though I am always playing catch up on this blog. Life is busy, oh, so busy, and I am grateful for a few minutes to document the happenings in our family...even if I have to catch up a month at a time!
School came quickly to a close this year. With a wet, cold, snowy Spring it kind of crept up on us. Usually we have a few weeks of wearing shorts and the end of year swimming party as signs that summer is upon us,but not this year! We wore long pants to the very end and the swimming party was canceled (due to the pool not being open yet and it was too cold to swim!). The kids enjoyed a movie day inside the gymnasium instead.

Our daughter has just LOVED third grade this year! She has had an amazing, fun, "wish they were all this good" teacher this year. Everyday when she gets home she has always been so excited to tell me about the fun in Mrs. Orton's class. She makes learning so fun!! She sings multiplication songs, speaks in a British accent, gives great reward parties, and the biggest and best news: She's going to go live in Germany! Mrs. Orton is the coolest ever!!

Mrs. Orton had to leave school a few days early (departing to Germany) and one of the moms threw a surprise thank-you/goodbye party. It was a fun party, but bitter sweet for our cute daughter. She shed huge crocodile tears on Mrs. Orton's last day.

Our second-oldest enjoyed his last few days in elementary school. Next year he heads over to the Junior High. He is excited and ready, but his Mom is scared to throw another guppy in with the sharks! At least my two guppies will be together again!

We got to go attend his sixth grade graduation ceremony...complete with a processional, a musical number, "If We Hold On Together," student speakers, presentation of diplomas, and remarks by the principal, Mr. Larsen.

The area around our school has had so much growth in the past few years that another elementary school has been built and will be opening next fall. It has been earth-shattering for my kids because half their friends will now go to another school, and many teachers and staff are also going to the new school. Mr. Larsen is one of those that we will miss the most! He is a fantastic school administrator and our school will not be the same without him.

Of course, it won't be the same without this cute kid either!!

Our Baby is Five!

2011-05-23T13:01:00.001-07:00

He used to be so little, but he is quickly growing up!

Last week we celebrated our baby's fifth birthday. I don't know where the time has gone.

I found a great deal on his favorite toys! He could hardly wait for his party so he could open his gifts.

He went to town and soon....

he had a bunch of new star wars guys and a few treats.

He wanted cupcakes instead of a cake, but we still found a way for him to blow out five candles.

He had a fun birthday and chose to end the day with "a happy kids meal" from his favorite restaurant with his Mom and Dad.

Don't grow up too fast my little boy! We love you!!

Wedding Bells

2011-05-23T12:38:00.001-07:00

Why do you think she is from grinning ear to ear?

Do you think it's because she got a brand new rifle? Well, I know that would make all the boys in this house happy, but that's not why she is happy...

this is!

The afternoon of May 11th, on the grounds of the Manti temple, a cute boy asked a cute girl if she would marry him for time and all eternity. She said yes!

The big day is coming up on August 20th. We are so happy for them!

Happy Birthday!

2011-05-23T12:02:00.000-07:00

We have had one birthday party after another here lately.

The first week my sister was here we celebrated her boyfriend's birthday.

He is a nice boy from Gunnison. He celebrated his birthday by going sky-diving...and he survived to tell the tale. He can't wait to go again.

It took awhile to light his 24 candles!

He received several nice gifts. This blanket was made by a certain girl for a certain boy. I think he liked it.

Just a few days later, we celebrated my sister's birthday along with my brother's birthday. It was a great evening with tasty Mexican food,

and a delicious ice cream cake that my sister and I made. She knows how to make them and I wanted to learn how...it really wasn't that hard and it turned out great!

My cute sister and my handsome brother!

One, two, three, blow!!

We had a really fun evening together. One year older and wiser too, Happy Birthday to YOU!!

I love to dance!

2011-05-23T11:32:00.001-07:00

We have been busy with dance lately!

This year in dance has been so fun, it is sad to see it come to an end.

Our daughter competed in a dance competition earlier in the month.

Her team placed first in their division! Her dance company swept the competition with eleven first place scores and one fourth place! It was a great showing for a great group of dancers and some awesome teachers!

We also recently attended the end-of-the-year showcase performance. It was so fun to see how much they have improved in just nine months.

I got to help out backstage helping the dancers get to and from the stage at the right time, etc. It was a neat experience to see how nervous and excited they get to perform.

Our daughter truly loves dance...she soaks up the on-stage attention and can really be fun to watch. I'm so grateful for the chance she has had to dance this year!