All caught up!

Okay I just posted more info than anyone would ever want to look at or read. Please feel free to leave now. I didn't post all summer because we were to busy having one of the best summers ever. I finally got my reward of a summer off with Jared. I'm sure it was our last. I will miss it. Most of our summer was spent at Bear Lake. we are home now and Jared is back to working. I will miss him. He already told me not to plan on seeing him until after homecoming in September. I'm hoping he's over reacting.

A few pics from a ward camp out at Schuster Creek. Best tin-foil dinners ever.

Jared let me run away for a few days to visit my friend Maggie who just moved back to California. I am trying not to covet where she lives. It is beautiful. She lives right by the beach. It is so relaxing just being there. Thanks Maggie for the wonderful time.

I took these pictures while waiting for our flight home. Claire has been on a plane four times now and has been an angel every time. Please don't change.

Lydia lost her first tooth. Well actually teeth. They both came at the same time. I pulled the first then told her it was too gross and I couldn't do the second. She then went into the bathroom and pulled the second all by herself. I'm loving her lisp.

Grayson had his first piano recital. He did well but let his nerves get to him a little. After he finished Jared turned to me and said, "That's not the song that I've been practicing with him." I'm so impressed with Grayson because our piano is old and broken and half the keys don't work. When he practices at home he has to go through the motions with out hearing what the song really sounds like. I don't know if all kids would have the patients to do that.

The Best of Friends

I'm sorry but it's not fair. My kids best friends are their cousins who all live on the only side of the counrty. I can't believe how close these kids stay even when they only see each other once or twice a year. All Grayson talks about is when Porter and Wyatt are coming and how long they will be here and how long until he will see them again. I just wish we could get to see them more.

Lydia and Carol are best buds too. I hope they will always like the same stuff.

Kate and Audrey were pretty clueless that the other existed in the past. This summer they grew to be best friends. They were partners in Crime, someone to laugh with, and someone to fight with. They reminded me of when Grayson and Porter were their age and best friends. I can't wait to get them together again.

I love this picture, Kate doesn't share with anyone. I especially love how she is showing Audrey how to lick it.

Bear Lake 2009 part 2

If you ever read our blog, I'm sure your sick of Bear Lake. But, we did spent most of our summer there. Next to my home there is no other place I'd rather be.

Kate has this great disappearing act, she perfected it at Bear Lake. We spent lots of time running around trying to find her. One time I found her on these rocks just relaxing.

Grayson finally learned to ride a two wheeler! Something we haven't been able to do because of the hills at our house.

Jared goes golf once a year. This is it.

My dad has a collection of leather tools that we brought up for craft time. We made quite a bit of stuff necklaces, purses, belts, knife holsters, etc. It was fun to see the kids wear and take pride in what they made.

Bear Lake is always windy, so we enjoy a good amount of kite flying.

Did I mention it's windy?

Last year we started the tradition of having a family olympics during our week there together. Last Year I tied for Gold and I was super sick with a baby in my belly. This year I had high hopes of winning another gold instead I choked on a couple events and got silver. I didn't take many picture this year cause I was to busy competing.

Our last event was a pie eating contest. Jared won for the men. I didn't even finish mine. We had lots of laughs despite our competitive nature.

We can't wait till next year so we can do it all again.

Soda Bottle Rockets

My dad built a Soda bottle rocket launcher for the kids to play with at Bear Lake. He also brought all kinds of crafting supplies so they could each design their own rocket. We had an absolute blast making and launching the rockets.

Showing off their works of art.

Launching in 3, 2, 1...

The bottles were really hard to catch when coming down, almost impossible. My dad told the kids that anyone who caught a rocket would win a dollar. They spent hours trying to catch a rocket. Eventually with parents help and some cheating all the kids had earned a dollar.

The Prize.

This is what they all chose to spend there dollar on. Giant jawbreakers on a stick. Such fun.

24th of July

This year was one of my favorite Pioneer Days ever. We started off the day at the parade downtown. The kids loved it.

Later the boys went fishing at Shuster Creek and the Girls went to my parents to look over some old photo's my grandma gave us. Each of us could chose a framed photo to hang in our home. We pulled out a family History book and found out who the photo's were of and their life story. The photo's were of ancestors who had come across the plains, so it quite fitting to read their stories on this day. This is a picture of my great great grandfather who settled in Tooele. We hung him up in our dining room.

Later we had another BBQ were Shelly and Chad made homemade root beer. So Good.

Don't you love the leotards Carol and Lydia are wearing. I especially love the underwear hanging out.

We ended the night with fireworks in Bountiful. We were right next to where the light them. Lets just say they were LOUD all my kids freaked out and clung to me for the first few minutes. Kate was absolutely terrified she started screaming "No, No, No." She wouldn't even look at them. I think she went into shock cause she just kind of shut down and laid in my arms like she passed out. I was horrified at the moment but laugh about it now.