Patiently, Prudently....

It's been fun watching Reese and his cute personality develop over the past few years. We've really enjoyed having such a goal oriented person around the house. Reese loves to plan ahead, work for and save his money, then spend it on something he's really been wanting. Earlier this summer, he saved up to help pay for half of his new bike and this time he decided he really, really wanted the new Lego Harry Potter Wii game. Here he is the day he reached his goal.

From the time he decided on what he wanted, he patiently worked away at home and at Grandpa's house while on vacation to earn what was needed. The decision was also made (by him) that he wouldn't play any other video games until he was able to buy this one. Reese also likes to plan ahead so much that as soon as he had enough cash to pay his tithing on the amount he was hoping to earn, that he decided it was best to pay it in advance, that way he wouldn't have to worry about it when he reached his goal. He did his time, stuck with the goal and finally got the reward! Good Job Reesey! Keep it up and you'll go far! We're proud of you little buddy.

Photos of a Friend

This is my beautiful friend Marrya and her beautiful kids. To fill everybody in on why we did this fun little photoshoot, I'll have to explain that after a long wait, her husband secured a job to become a State Trooper. He recently left for training and Marrya asked me to take some pictures of the family for him to have while he's away. The training camp goes from now through December. What a woman Marrya is to keep her family and home together in light of the challenges! Marrya is such a dear friend and brings life and excitment to our street and lives. I'm so glad I was the one to take these pictures so that I can share them with you all (because I know Marrya won't) and show you what a wonderful friend I have!

Seth and Audrey were great, (in addition to being adorable) and very patient with all of the pictures.

I completely struggled to get any pictures with all of them together. Mia, as seen here had a ball when left to her own devices, but as soon as we'd try to arrange or pose her with anyone else, it just was not happening. She's such a little cherub!

The beauty and the brains of the operation, Marrya. What a gorgeous girl!!

Thank you Marrya for being such an amazing, giving friend. We love you!

Oh How I Love Thee

I decided to make an impromptu drive home. Brave the 11-12 hours trapped in the car with just the kids and I. Miles and miles of countryside with no tv or movies, just books, music, crayons and paper. I typically head home in August, and although I still plan to, we decided to make an early jaunt to be home when my brother Eric and his family were visiting. Even though we didn't stay our usual marathon length of time, it was, and always is, well worth the drive.

Click on the collages to see larger

Here's some fun out at Mom and Dad's. Cute little bambi baby deer that was running through the daisies. The kids were given various jobs around the property to earn their keep. This time it was picking up pine cones. The kids also always have fun on the famous zipline and this year they've taken to playing in the old grain silo and calling it the leprechaun house. Fun stuff.

Here we were at a fun day downtown and at the city beach. The kids had a blast on the paddle boats.

Here's Audrey making a clean entrance to the water out at the family beach

Elle opted for the diving board

Tarah, my sis-in-law and I took the kids out for a hike and to a little beach, took them to the Resort to get a famous "Gooey", as you can see Elle's is about as big as her head. Dallin was having lots of fun pretending to be a dog and fetching his stick for Reese. Whatever they want, it's all great during the lazy days of summer vacation.

Tail end of the 4th

Arriving home July 5th, we were able to catch the tail end of the 4th's festivities. Grandma and Grandpa saved their fireworks for us and so we had a great way to celebrate completing our long, long drive.

The kids were so giddy and excited to be out of the car, let alone get to light more fireworks! Here's mom, ever-ready with the hose, just in case things got out of hand.

Audrey and her cutie-pie cousin Amanda. It was so great to be home with cousins that we don't always get to see.

I can't think of a better place to celebrate

4th of July Best

Summertime Partaaay!

I do want to document all the great fun we've been having this summer.... It's just that to do that I have to stay up very late at night when I should really be sleeping! So, here goes with the quickie captions!

Sam's Mom and Step-Dad Tony came to visit. Lots of fun was had, with cookie baking, trips to the zoo, smashing of geodes, playing in the hammock etc..!

This is the gorgeous view from the Heber Creeper. My Mom and Dad were here visiting and decided to take all their grandkids that live in Utah on this little adventure. Lots of fun, and lots of kids!! There was even a robbery! Yikes! :)

Well, we forgot to take the camera to the parade on the 4th (3rd) of July, but Sam said we were so cute he had to snap this one when we got back.

Fun with friends! Our good friends the Johnsons hosted everyone in their back-yard and the kids had a blast in this bouncy-house water slide! Woo hoo! Thanks for the good time! A note about the smoking mailbox, I guess this is what happens to a girl when she grows up with three brothers closest to her age, and her only sister is spaced at ten years apart.... I love fireworks/fire!! Yay!

On to the big fireworks with more friends. We had such a fun day and the kids were absolutely pooped by the end of it all!! We love summer!!

Well...

I'm kind of stuck blogging with my phone pictures. There will be many great pictures... they're just stuck in limbo right now. It seems that my computer has finally run out of space when it comes to my constant chronicling of family activities. Sam has bought an external hardrive and as soon as I can get it running and clear some space, we'll be back in business! The kids and I have been very busy. Sam's Mom and Hubby were here for a week of visiting, reading, eating, cooking, shopping, etc.. After they left it was Father's Day and now my Parents are here on an impromptu visit to help with Dallin. Dallin is my nephew who recently was hospitalized with pneumonia. He is finally doing better though and miraculously was able to come home under close supervision and continued medication. Prayers have definitely been answered and we're all so grateful! We went on a fun ride on the Heber Creeper with Gma and Gpa Livingston and those pictures are on my real camera. It was allot of fun and so beautiful up there! The kids were pretty excited about the train "robbery" too. More to come... Hope everyone's enjoying their summer!

Elle in a Park City Gallery

The kids enjoying some ice cream in Park City

Lagoon Day with friends!

And I came home from the store to find this: Sam's mom reading to all the kids-neighbors included.. :)

Slowly but Surely

Slowly but Surely the summer is getting off to a start.

Normally this time of year, we're already dying of heat-stroke. Not this year. But that's ok, we've made do. The kids have had plenty of time to play with friends, and make lots and lots of messes.

I was working in the yard and came in to find this: Sam was so sweet and thoughtful and got me these:
Reese went to Scout day camp, now wants a bb gun and whittled/found these:


This is par for the course around here:


Elle has been keeping me company doing lots of this:

The kids are thrilled to be at their swim lessons, as you can see here:

Audrey insisted on buying this:

And with the high school kids gone, I can do a whole lot of this:

Happy Summer!!

What a Party!

We've had a whirlwind around us this last weekend and part of the fun was celebrating Audrey's 11th Birthday. We started out the festivities with a little game of bowling followed by some laser tag. It was of course a bit difficult to get pictures in the dark, but what I did get you can see in the collages below. Just click them to see bigger.

Here they are, the cousins bowling league!

Lindsey and Audrey had their chest bump they did to celebrate, Reese jumped around like a leprechaun, and there was all kinds of screaming going on. Especially from the three boys.

After the party my sister took all the boys and Elle down to her house for a sleepover, leaving the big girls to themselves... Before they left, Elle got in on watching these crazy girls peeling off their facials. They all slept in Audrey's room and Lindsey dared to brave sleeping in the loft.

The birthday girl on her Birthday morning, happily enjoying her new requested long board and webkinz. I had the most fun I've had in a long time when I decided to lay down on the long board and let Audrey push me at top speed face forward, flying down the street. I laughed so hard I cried, especially when she tried to stop me and all I felt was my flip flops being pulled off!! Thanks for all the fun in the last 11 years! You really are one of a kind and we love you so much and are so proud of you!

xoxoxo LOve Mom and Dad

Other posts following up our weekend can be seen below, I've been a little busy for blogging so I had to do them in one big clump!