Happy 4th of July

We took our kids to the 4th celebration in Nephi at the city park. We did this last year as well. The kids really do have a lot of fun. It is just a small town, down to earth, family friendly fun! There are games and homemade rides for the kids, as well as many of the big blow-up slides and bounce houses. They have food concessions, a craft boutique with things made from the towns people from Nephi and Mona, they have a couple auctions and there is local entertainment. What is great about this celebration is that is is put on by our stake and the money goes to the youth and scouting programs. It was a fun day and we came home happy and sun burnt, especially my poor husband, who helped run the merry-go-round and stood in the sun way to much.

That evening my 3 older kids went with their cousins to the high school football Field to watch fireworks. They had fun watching all the little fires start and have to be put out. The wind keeps things interesting for the fireworks, Good Times!

TJ's new haircut!

Knightin and TJ decided to try their hand at hair cutting. They were a little ruff around the edges, but managed to get most of TJ's hair off. I thought that was pretty impressive. I have to admit, both Todd and I were at work when this happened, so yes we are terrible parents, but what do you do. I had to go into work early and Todd wasn't home yet, Taylar was out, so we took the chance and left the kids with Ki. I'd like to say he won't get to babysit again for a little bit, but hey It could have happened when I was at home too.

When Kelten called me at work, I asked him how bad it was, and he told me it was a very short boy haircut with a few stringy long pieces. I thought, now that doesn't sound very good, but was hoping he was exaggerating. I called Todd to tell him and asked him if he could bring her up to the salon when he got home and they would clean it up for me. I was still hoping at this point that we could make it a short cute spiky haircut. Todd called me before he came and said that it looked like Poovy's hair right after he gets groomed except for the long strings of course. I was was not very happy to say the least. This had already been a bad day, and that just made it that much worse. Why must scissors be a necessity? Well as you can see from the pictures, Keltens explanations was pretty good, and my hopes were dashed away and we buzzed her hair right off.

I am trying to look at the bright side, they say that her hair should grow in thicker. This would be nice sice her hair is so thin, as for right now she is my little bald girl that will be wearing a lot off bows, headbands and bandannas for awhile.

Little Miss Summer Days

Nephi has has a little Pageant every year called " Little Miss Summer Days". This is for ages 2ish to 12. They get to model a summer outfit, answer some questions and then for the 9-12 year old age group they get to do some sort of talent. We are working with Tay to get over some of her shyness. She does singing lessons which is helping a ton and we thought this would be another good opportunity for her. She decided to do Hula Hopping. The Crowd loved her and she did so great. She didn't mess up once and had a huge smile on her face the whole time. Her cousin KaDi also participated and she sang and did amazing too. Neither one of them won, but they had a good experience and each time hey get up in front of people it gets a little bit easier for them. I was so very proud of Taylar. Even though she didn't win she made huge steps forward.

This is the Place Heritage Park!

After we went to the zoo about a month ago,we stop by "This is The Place Heritage Park" It was not open for the season, but we got to see enough that the kids wanted to come back at a later date. We finally had a Saturday free last weekend and it turned out to be a fun experience for the kids and they got to learn a little more about our pioneer heritage!

We didn't actually go to the monument or the other statues until the end, but they were fun to see and read up about the people that these monuments were created for.

So this park use to be just the monument, that is the only thing my parents experience when they went as kids, but it has grown into a lot more then that now. They have re-created a small town that represents what early Utah towns might have looked like. Some of the buildings and cabins are original that they have re-located, but a lot of them are replicas. They have workers that play out the parts of the pioneer people. They have even learned many of the skills and the history of those that worked and lived in these buildings and homes to make it a more real experience for us.


The kids made puppets that might have been similar to those they might have made. They got to have pony rides. Watch a blacksmith at work, see how the pioneer women cooked. They made their own candles. Watched one of the worker/pioneer women make pottery. They got to learn how to put out a fire like the "Bucket Brigade" would have. They went to school and learned about they differences of school then to what it is like now. They all learned how to write their names in the Desseret Alphabet.

They panned for gold, rode two different trains. Got to go into a tee pee and a hogom, talk to some real Indians, and learned how they make, put up and take down their homes. They did a few other crafts

Walked on stilts, helped with the printing press, and enjoyed taking some old time pioneer pictures.

TJ is so big to Knightin.

Some of the building at the park!

This was a Butterfly that was right next to our van when we went to leave. Not only did I get really close to it to take its picture, but it also let me put it on my finger. It was pretty cool!


Next we went over to Temple Square.

We had learned that the made model replica of the Salt Lake Temple, down to some of the finest details and we thought it would be fun to see ourselves, but we also wanted to have our kids see it. It was really cool. The team that did this did an amazing job.

Those who are close enough to go there, should go see it. I believe it is worth it.

Of course if you go to Temple Square you have to wonder the grounds, which we did and took in all the beauty! We also went over to the conference center to take the tour. The kids wanted to be able to go up on the roof and it appears the only way to do that is to go through the tour, but we went to late and didn't have time to go up. The kids were so disappointed. We went through the whole tour, which was kind of boring for them and then were finally at the point where we would have gotten to go up and the tour guide was informed that they just shut down the elevators up, Dang!! I guess we will try it again sometime, but make sure we go plenty early so there is no chance that we won't be able to go up.

I don't think there is a temple much more beautiful then this one. It is amazing!

We can't forget swimming!

Part of summer fun is the swimming that we get to do up at Grandpa & Grandma's house. We do this at least twice a week!

Joshie is Going on a Mission!

Man I'm getting old. My nephew Josh got his Mission called a couple months back and got his call to serve in Lima, Peru. He is so excited. We are so proud of him. We got to go with him to the Manti Temple about a week ago now to take out his endowments. Since then his has gone several more times, all to different temples in UT. He is going to the St. George temple this week. He would like to go to all of them, but I don't think he will make it. He goes into the MTC on the 21st. It was such a great experience to share this with him. We are going to miss him while he is gone, but he will make a great missionary!!

Just for Fun. Kelten was really cute when he saw this picture. He was convinced that Josh really had gotten up on the steeple, and couldn't figure out how he did it and why they would let him!

Camping With Friends!

We got to go camping with some great friends a few weekends ago. This time we went up NeboLoop Byway which is gorgeous. I'm not a big fan of the actual camping part of camping. The tent, the cold nights, the uncomfortable bed, etc..... But my kids love it and I enjoy the day part of it, so we made a compromise that we would go camping at least once a summer, but we would try and do a lot more day visits to places and get out in nature a lot more. We are doing very good on this bargain and the kids seem to be loving the summer this year. We are hardly ever home. We just did the overnighter thing and I didn't actually get up there until almost 10 that evening. We went up a little earlier and got everything set up, and then I had to go to work. That was so hard to do. It wasn't fun leaving the family to enjoy the adventure, to go and massage people. Oh well, I made money right?

Our little tent site, I didn't completely rough it. We brought our double areobed. Pretty comfortable but I still froze.

We did a lot of exploring while there. It wasn't long but we did a good job of having fun!

There was plenty of water to play in, and I think that overall was the kids favorite part!

Someone has cut some logs into chairs, we have gotten pictures in them before but couldn't resit making them get pictures again. We found some big hollow logs on the hike and the girls decided they need pictures with them.

While at the river we saw a cool spiderweb, it was small but just perfectly they way you imagine spiderwebs should be. Along with the spiderweb was what we thought was a spider with a blue bum. They pulled me over to take a picture of it. When I got my zoom lens on it. We realized it was a egg sack, gross!!! There will soon be probably hundreds of those spiders running around, yuck. I'm so not a spider fan and for some reason, eggs hanging off creatures really grosses me out!

We had so much fun with the families we camped with and can't wait to do it all again next year. You guys are the best and we loved spending time with you!!

Some of Utah's plant life!

Beautiful!!!!

The kids were pretty tuckered out by the end of the day, but still enjoyed seeing the sun setting.

I think TJ sums up what the rest of us were wanting to be doing! Sleeping kids are to adorable!

I love the landscape up in the Mountains of Utah!

Mona Canyon

I'm sure that the canyon that we went up in , is not called Mona Canyon, but since I don't know the name that is what my kids and I call it. This canyon is pretty much just up the street from our house and we have been there a few times, and my kids love it. The love to beable to explore and hike. The 3 oldest are getting old enough now that if the babies start getting tired, I let them wander around on their own as long as I can always hear them. I think we spent about 4 hours up there, picnic lunch and all. It was a good morning.

Tay's Birthday!

Tay for her birthday, just wanted to do something fun with her cousin KaDi, she wasn't sure what but it couldn't include her brothers. I realized that I had the perfect set-up to give her a girls day out. I set up the day so that her and KaDi got to have Pedicures and Manicures, as well as Taylar getting more done to her hair. Then we went over to the Nephi Scrapbook store and the girls and I made Magnet boards, complete with vinyl cut-outs and magnets. We topped it off with going out to lunch and then swimming. The swimming they had to share with the siblings, but they had a great day without them until then. The best part about the whole thing was not only did I get to spend the day with Tay (which by the way she is getting so grown up), but I also didn't spend a penny. I love the fact that I can do trade!!!Aren't they Cute!!!!
The Salon treatment!

Making the magnet boards!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!!

Good Quote

I need to do a little more dancing, and a lot less waiting!

June 20th 11 years ago!

11 years ago on Father's Day our sweet baby girl was born. She was almost 3 weeks early and what a great surprise. Can you get a much better Father's Day gift, then having your first child born on that day?! If you're going to have to spend your day in the hospital on a holiday this is a good one. Todd has been in heaven ever since!

I couldn't ask for a better man and Father in my life. Todd is amazing and gives to our family so much. He brings so much to our kids, he is their life and they are his. There isn't a day that goes by they he isn't surrounded the moment he walks through the door from work. I have to fight for his time, the kids can't get enough.

I love you Todd, you are my everything!!Todd and his Baby Girl!!
What a stud!

I love this picture!

Happy Birthday Taylar. You are an amazing daughter and I don't know what we would do without you in our lives. You bring sunshine everyday. You keep us grounded and help us always remember Heavenly Father in our lives. You are sweet, caring, giving, responsible, devoted, and silly. Even though the rest of the world doesn't always get to see that side of you. We were so blessed the day you arrived in our home. I can't wait to spend the next 11 years with you and any years to come.

My Baby Girl 1 day old, getting ready to leave the hospital!

She is my beautiful girl! She is both beautiful on the outside and inside!