Bear Lake 2010

The family trip to Bear Lake this year was so much fun! My family is getting so big but the kids are old enough to entertain themselves with only minimal amounts of tears and blood. We spent the time hanging out at the beach and at the pool and staying up way too late for people of our age. Here's a question though: How is it that 5 people raised in the same home could marry such different spouses? We are quite the mix, and I love it. Thank you again, Mom and Dad, for an amazing trip!

Cruisin' with Poppy on the "tractor"! Max is such a guy's guy.

Max loved the "WATER!"

Ella, Shamri and Max

So, we pretty much commandeered the pool. This is the beginning of our 4 man high chicken fights. My face looks awesome, but don't I look so tough!? That's like 500 lbs on my shoulders! ;)

I couldn't get my legs on Andy's shoulders, and that was the end of our totem pole. I think us "grown ups" had more fun here than the kids.

God Bless America

The Fourth of July truly is my favorite holiday. And I'll take anyone to the mat arguing that small town Fourth's are THE best. Moroni's celebration is so much fun, even if it is just for nostalgia's sake. But it's wonderful seeing the same faces sitting in the same spots under the same trees for the parade year after year, and hitting the carnival with old fashioned games like fishpond and bob for apples (sadly, they have entered newer things like bounce houses, which just aren't the same), and then BBQ turkey and fun with the family while the kids count their candy they caught from the parade .

Sadly, this year, I missed it all. I had to work and I can't believe how depressed I was about it, but Andy and the kids went and had a great time. My ever thoughtful and kind brother-in-law, Fred, shared his pictures with me. (Although he may have just been rubbing my face in the fact that I wasn't there, I'll never know.)

I do want to add, how grateful I am for this country. I know our Heavenly Father has blessed us so much for giving us this land and all of our countless freedoms, freedoms that I don't really even understand that others don't have. My heart is full for those who have fought and still fight for us, who protect us, who protect my family and preserve this country. Thank you.

True adrenaline. Zoe with cousins Aiden and Keyton.

Check out that face! Zoe in the middle.

I'm still not sure if I believe it! Ella rode a motorcycle all by herself!

We went down on Sunday (the actual 4th) to pick up the kids and she showed me that they weren't lying about the motorcycle.

Maybe it's not a full sized motorbike, but who's that going to stop? Can you stop laughing at this picture? Because I couldn't!!!!

Yes, yes. I even gave it a go. Hell's Angel's has a new member. I just need me some sweet chaps!

Zoe's Big Day

First Day! ..............................................Last Day!

I did not cry at Zoe's preschool graduation. Why? Because this is the best kind of graduation to have! One where your child will be back in preschool in the fall and you can pretend they are still the same age and will stay that age forever. It was a wonderful night. Her teacher is the most amazing teacher I have met and I agree with Zoe when she says, "I never, never, never, never want to leave preschool!"

Zoe and Miss Andrea

Bestest Buddies

The graduate in all her glory. I love this girl!!!!

How to Train Your Dragons

A fun fun season of soccer ended yesterday.

"Coach" had as much fun as the girls.

These are The Dragons.(That was Megan's suggestion and it stuck)

Zoe got cut and pasted cause she was bending it like Beckham on the other fields with her team.

Mommy just chased Max around for a couple hours every Tuesday and Saturday.

Ironman St. George = B-R-U-T-A-L

That is not to say that ANY Ironman race isn't brutal, because, come on!, we know they are. But this one in particular was astoundingly difficult. Difficult??!! What am I saying??? It was insane. They have already labeled it the most difficult course in North America. And Andy did it!

So, I am a terrible wife...I was not there to see him to start. Yes, I am ashamed. I drove down early in the morning with my Mom, knowing we would be late but would catch up with him on the bike. The swim was in Sand Hollow Reservoir and he did fantastic. My mom and I tried desperately to see him on the bike thanks to the guidance from good friends and many Blackberry's put to use for me to track him, but, alas, we missed him by minutes. So we saw him get off the bike (after the 112 mile ride I might add) at T2 and start his 26.2 mile run. It was painful to watch, but he did so amazing. His final time was 12 hrs and 9 minutes which he is very happy about. He came away feeling great, and hey! at least he wasn't the one with the broken collar bone!

This was such a fun race...for me. My mom was my savior and it was so great to get to hang out with her for the day, (Even though I about killed her dragging her around the coarse all day) I got to see and catch up with good friends that made the long waits so much more fun, (Love you Michele, JoAnn and Bill!) I got to see my awesome friends conquer the race, (Steve, Rob and Todd! I am bursting I am so proud of all of you!) And especially, I got to see Andy in his element. Andy...you are an incredible person. You inspire me in every way and I am so lucky to have you. I love you, babe!

Waiting, waiting, waiting.... I show up early at the check points and then I spend the whole time wondering if I've missed him.
This is at about mile 135...5 more to go!
Getting some sugar before starting the run!

Finish line!

Andy on the megatron!

To Help Me Remember...

Zoe, "Ella, I think perhaps I love you."

Zoe, "What if Max was the daddy? That would be so crazy."

Ella, "I have to read 'Slurpy Glurpy' really fast or I get too scared. I feel the scared in me go in my face and my face gets soooo hot!" (referring to the poem by Shel Silverstein.)

Zoe, "Wow, Max was crying so loud! That makes me so impressive. Do you know what "impressive" means, Mom? It means that Max is crying the loudest and it makes me so embarrassed. Do you know what "embarrassed" means? It means that I just can't take it anymore!"

Max, "Push the button." (Hey, he's a baby. That's huge!)

Zoe was waiting right outside the shower and scared me to death, when, as soon as I stepped out she said, "Mom! That took you two whole hours!" Me:"I'm sorry I took so long honey." Her:"No, that is not even a long time! Good job, Mom!"

Ella at dinner, "Banana Hammock! Mom, can we get a banana hammock? I love those things." After the laughter died down, Andy didn't want her telling her teachers she was getting a banana hammock, so we explained they were a boys swimming suit..., "So why are they called that? Is it because they have pictures of bananas on them?"

Zoe, after being told what a good girl she is, "Yea, because I don't bite or hit anyone, hu? But I do lick people. If they want me to lick them I do, but if they don't want me to lick them, I won't!"

Goblin Valley 2010

Ella, Andy, Chloe, Ethan (tiny in the back), Doug and LauraJane and Zoe in front.

What's Spring Break without getting a little dirty? This year we left the freshly fallen snow and headed to Goblin Valley with our friends, the Fryers. If you haven't been, GO! We didn't have to leave our campsite for the kids to find a million things to do. That is one key ingredient of good vacation....the kids can entertain themselves!

Now why don't they make these packs in adult sizes?

You can't tell, but Andy is actually up pretty high with Max on his back. Max loved it!!!

This is our campsite, and yes that is dirt around Max's mouth. He may have eaten a few pounds of the stuff.