Girls Camp 2010

Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to go to Girls Camp with the Stake. And although I'm not much of a camper, I was super excited to go! I missed my kids and Greg like crazy and I will confess that the lack of sleep and showers was not pleasant, but otherwise I had a lot of fun! I love the ladies that I serve with in the Stake Young Womens and it was fun to get to know all the girls better. Thanks for a fun time ladies! Until next year ...

Happy Pioneer Day!

Is there really anything more fun than a BBQ, sparklers and friends on a summer night? Not many things can top that in my book! We had the Snows and Morbys over to celebrate the 24th of July and had such a great time! I'm truly thankful for good friends and even more thankful that my friends have great kids who are my kids' friends! Thanks guys for a fun night! We love you!

Lazy days of summer

What's that you say? There's less than 3 weeks left until school starts again? WHAT? But I had all these great things planned! Holy cow!

This week we've kind of been lazy ... and it's been GREAT! I was gone last week to Girls Camp (so much fun, minus the lack of sleep and showers) and it's taken me a few days to get back into the groove. So this week for fun we gave the movie day another try (sorry no pics) and hit the lazy river/splash pad downtown. Of course, we HAD to stop by "Swig" (my new favorite treat spot thanks to Amy) for drinks and sugar cookies, not once, but twice! YIKES!



Have I mentioned lately how much I love these 3 little people? I missed them and their dad like crazy last week while I was gone! I couldn't wait to get home and give them all loves! Thanks hon for taking such good care of things while I was gone! And kids ... thanks for the cute "welcome home mom" notes everywhere and the spa treatments! You're all the best!

Fun with friends

So, in an attempt to try to entertain the restless, cooped up because we live on the surface of the sun children, I decided to let them invite a few friends over for a movie day. There were blankets, bean bag chairs, pillows and even pajamas, but most importantly ... there were SNACKS! So we closed the blinds and pretended we were at the movie theater. We took a vote and the kids decided on an old video that most had not seen. They seemed excited and I was proud of my fun creative idea, convinced that I would soon be declared Mother of the Year! Take a look! Doesn't this look like fun?


However, about 25 minutes into our 2 1/2 hours of fun things started to, well ... change! All of a sudden the 5 younger kids were headed to the basement and just the older 3 and the baby were watching the movie. Hmmmm ... well, not exactly what I'd planned, but that's okay. Then I started hearing the words, "I'm bored!" YIKES! Thankfully they managed to busy themselves for a while and then the movie ended. Suddenly the girls were calling for the boys to chase them, lots of hooting and hollering and then the slamming of doors! So I quickly put on my thinking cap and separated them - boys to the Wii to play Super Mario and girls to do what girls do best - sit and chat.


In the end, even though the movie wasn't a hit, I think they had a great time! Next time ... better movie options are a MUST!

This is what matters ...

The other night after FHE we decided to walk to the park and let the kids play in the splash pad for a few minutes. It seemed like no big deal ... just another family night ... 40 quick minutes at the park. But as Greg and I watched the kids and the huge grins on their faces, we couldn't help but smile ourselves. And then as they hopped back on their bikes, chatting about how much fun that was, and we put Eme back in the stroller and started to walk home, we commented to each other that this was one of those priceless moments. Simple, uncomplicated, unplanned, inexpensive, TOGETHER moments. They're growing up SO fast and I'm VERY glad we shared this memorable night at the park as a family because this is what really matters most ... US!

4th of July

Even though I hate the heat of summer, I DO love Independence Day! This year we had a simple family celebration, but it was a lot of fun! We woke the kids up early to get to the parade and even though it was short it still got us in the mood to party. We stuck around the park for a bit then headed off to see Toy Story 3 ... again! Then it was home for lunch and naps for everyone, well ... almost everyone, right Josh? Then the traditional BBQ, a little round of "HORSE" on the basketball court, homemade ice cream, sparklers and finally ... fireworks! It was a long, tiring and fun day ... the sign of a perfect holiday! Happy 4th!

The newest addition to our family

We have a new addition to our family ... the long awaited basketball court! Kate and Josh have been counting down the days. The cement was poured just before we left for Salt Lake and Greg worked hard to get the hoop up while we were gone. So the second that we pulled in the garage, they were off to shoot hoops! We're hoping that perhaps Josh will make the NBA someday and make us millions. But if Kate has her way she'll be the first female to play for the NBA. Who knows? I wouldn't put it past her!

Reasons to celebrate my man

It's hard to believe, but Greg and I just celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary on the 27th of June. As cheesy as it sounds, I'm incredibly grateful to call him my husband, best friend, dad to my kids and partner forever! We celebrated by taking my mom and Jim up on their offer to watch the kids overnight. We went to see "Knight and Day" (great show), had a delicious dinner at PF Chang's (love that place!) and stayed at the Marriott City Center in downtown SLC. It was such a treat to just spend time together alone. (No offense kids!) Thanks honey for 19 great years! You're the best!

Just 4 days later we got to celebrate Greg again on his birthday! The kids and I surprised him with some stepping stones with their handprints and some new summer clothes. We went out to dinner, watched a movie as a family and hopefully made our dad/hubby feel like a king!

So here's to you honey ... HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Trip to Salt Lake

Every summer the kids and I head to Salt Lake for a week to play and spend a little extra time with family. It seems like the rest of the year our trips are so quick and we don't get to go and do some of the fun things we enjoy up there. So, we packed our things, kissed our dad goodbye for a few days and headed North.

What better way to start a "vacation" than to go shopping? First thing we went to Ikea. I LOVE that store and could spend alot of time and money there. And may I just say to the person who's BRILLIANT idea it was to have a play area for kids ... THANK YOU!

Of course we don't have to go far to find fun for the kids when Papa Jim is around. He managed to come up with new and exciting ways to entertain the kids ... for Eme - a ride in a basket balanced on a skateboard zipping across the basketball court and for Liv - a ride in Nana's gardening bucket pulled around by Josh. Who knew that could be so much fun? Thanks Jim!


Next it was sprinkler day at Nana's house! We were going to head to a splash pad, but the moms decided that it was just as easy and fun to hang out at home where the Diet Cokes and cupcakes were plentiful and the A/C was close by. Thankfully the kids didn't seem to care and had a great time together!


Wednesday night the kids headed to their aunt and uncle's house for a sleepover with cousins. Of course, DeDee had LOTS of fun things planned, all perfectly centered around Toy Story 3, which we went to see on Thursday. We had 14 of us - 2 adults, 1 teenager and 11 kids under 10, but we LOVED the show! Thanks for a fun, fun, afternoon/sleepover! (Sorry! No pics!)

Friday, Amy and I decided to head to Gateway, which I absolutely LOVE! I love the stores, I love the food, I love the splash pad, I love EVERYTHING about it EXCEPT that it's in Salt Lake and not St. George! Now, I'm not ashamed to admit that we did bribe the kids with the Discovery Museum, the splash pad and even a Ben & Jerry's ice cream cone if they would but grant us a wee bit of shopping time. Go ahead! Call me a bad mother, but a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do and shopping was a MUST! So we strolled along, shopped, met Nana for lunch at the Rumbi Grill, chatted and reminded the kids more than once of our promise. It was a PERFECT day! Thanks Am and Liv!





Our fun week ended with a backyard movie/sleepover at Nana's house. It was such a hit that Mom and Jim have decided to make this a tradition! They're such good sports. They were even going to sleep outside, but reconsidered the possibility of early rising children and backaches. Such a fun night!


Thanks everyone for a GREAT week in Salt Lake! We miss you already!