Summer of all Summers

A screamin' deal on the "Pass of All Passes" , plus birthdays and other activities/ celebrations kept our summer action packed! (Not pictured: Plenty of lawn mowing, weed pulling, and house cleaning to make the fun times that much more appreciated :)

 Caroline, the lefty in position. She and Will both played in (HOT) state tournaments this summer.

 Nate's 4 yr old "Bob the Builder" Party!

 Pedicures for Desi's bday in July.  Caroline was in Price with Gma L.

 And a trip to Classic Fun Center, her outing choice.

 Arrow of Light. Moving out of Cubs !  :(

 LAGOON! What fun is ! (for kids, that is)

 A major accomplishment for our whole family (including the baby in Mommy's tummy), total of 8 miles hiked in the Uintahs with all our gear on our backs.

 Tracy Aviary/ Liberty Park.

 "The Little Mermaid"  with our on-stage star, Jetsom the eel.
Other plays we have attended this season include: Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, Arsnic and Old Lace, & Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. John used the theatre as his "not enough days off for Lake Powell this year" therapy.

Chuck E. Cheese, William's B-day outing.  Our kids really get into ski ball, just like I did when I was little (still do).

Nathan loved boating & was more brave than ever this year.

We sure have gotten used to the "go, go, go."  A four year gap between Nathan and this next little one  made us momentarily oh so mobile! 

Spring Sundays 2012

                                                 General Conference and Easter ,
                                                      and spiffed-up kids,
                                          make Spring Sundays SO beautiful!!

Nature's Playground

We had a beautiful camping trip June 1st -2nd in upper Huntington Canyon. My kids found this root to climb on near Mammoth Lake.  Sad and worrisome to know that now some of the surrounding area has recently been burned by wildfire.

Not so sure I'm smarter than a 5th grader.

Playing Scattergories with the Kimi and the kids. Letter: J. Topic: U.S. Cities.  I was proud to announce my answer, Juno (Alaska.)"That's not how you spell it, though Mom." my 10 year old, William, informed me.
"It's JUNEAU."
"Oh.  I think you're right." I conceeded. But it still starts with a J!"
His concluding comment on the subject:  "Jeez Mom, Didn't JUNEAU that????"

My 3 1/2 year old son is keeping me just as entertained. Nathan convinced me to sit down and play Clue with him one recent weekday. As I threw in a load of laundry, finished unloading the dishwasher, and straightened the house to a point where I could handle sitting down for a minute in it, he set out the gameboard.
We chose the cards to be placed in the secret envelope and it was time to roll the dice.
"Ladies First," Nathan politely said to me.
"Thank You Nathan." I replied, then asked, "Where did you learn to say that?"
His answer: "Scooby Doo."

 A few weeks later,we were sitting at a stop sign in the Suburban when a motorcycle gang crossed our path.
"Dad used to have a motorcycle," I told him. "Back when we were younger." This conversation starter peaked Nathan's interest instantly.
"Why does he not have a motorcycle any more?" he asked.
"He sold it to buy me this ring." I held up my left hand for him to see.
After a few moments of thought he let me know how he felt about that.
"You know, you should get your own rings."

"A Whole New World..."

We kicked off our CA trip with a Carne Asada burrito at "Taco Fiesta." I told a friend with whom we reunited in San Diego that seeing John's excitement at their reunion, and our entire mission tour made me feel like he may not even need to go to Disneyland!

Here is the Elder, same street, 13 years later. John drove us up another street called Gayle which was steep enough to make us realize his mission wasn't ALL as easy as sunny days and palm trees.


San Diego Temple. Bright and beautiful. (John with his best companion ever.)

Skyline on a Coronado Island walk.

Trying to re-create the pic of Peggy holding hands with her young kids near the ocean's edge.

My favorite ocean shot. Desi had a blast. She ended up most soaked!

On to the much anticipated LEGOLAND! Here is Nate with one of his idols.

Our kids in front of some great and spacious buildings.

And then the whole new world of Disney! I was already enveloped in the R&R afforded me by not having to tend to daily tasks like laundry and making dinner. I felt very fortunate to be away making memories instead.

The artistry, politeness, and never ending entertainment of Disneyland floated me further into a world of Vacation with a capital V! (as opposed to camping, with a lowercase c. no offense John. ha ha J.K.)

Should I feel guilty about snapping these photos of photos?? Notice Desi's hands, always UP. We learned a little bit about her daredevil side.

3D was everywhere!!! I had no idea that was such a part of the Disney parks. Most memorable for me was feeling a maggot crawl across my backside at the end of the Bugs Life show. John liked the Muppets. My cute and considerate Mother brought along and sported the hot pink hat so she'd be easily spotted in case of misplaced kiddos.

The showmanship was overflowing. So many talented people come together to make up the Disney staff. My kids loved taking part in Phinneus and Ferb's dance party. We also saw Monsters Inc. in the streets. I started totaling the estimated cost of going to the movies/ theater as many times as we did and realized again why Disney tickets are so pricey. Not to mention their power and water bills, etc. etc. etc.

Nate with another of his idols! (We didn't forget about Mater either. Got a fam. pic. w/ him.)

Paradise Pier, aptly named.

Now that we are back braving 18 degree weather and homework galore, my goal is to carry over a little more of that "Zippety Do Dah" feelin into my every day.

Hooray for Disneyland!

"I want to ride my bicycle...

...I want to ride my bike. I like to ride my bicycle. I want to ride it where I like!" (-song by Queen)

Whether it be on Carbonville Road...

(Katy and I took this route manyearly mornings in '94, where I think my love for the two wheeled thrill began)


Or in St. George on the Bear Claw Poppy Trail...

John took me there for our 10th Anniversary in 2010.

Together we have biked the San Rafael, Rock Canyon in Provo, Logan Canyon, Dimple Dell in SLC, Lambert Park in Highland, Moab, and more. After our trip south,I told John we could pretty much say we had completed LOTAGEO.

Because of baseball and other obstacles, we didn't make it to the Lunatic Triathalon in Price this year. We saved some money and took a ten miler here in Lehi for free. Afterwards the whole family biked to Dennys for a scrumptious breakfast. This was one of my best memories of the season.

I love family bike rides!!! John was speaking my love language when he bought me a bike trailer one year for Mom's day. Here we are (below) on our traditional Labor Day ride. John took us to Daybreak where he works and afterwards treated us to a pizza picnic.

The chill in the air and the pending snow signal for me an end to prime biking season. It is always a sad day when we take the bikes out of the nifty wood rack crafted by John and hang them high in the garage.

Once while we were dating John surprised me with a bicycle tune up. I began to see that this guy had skills, valuable skills. And now - here we are - a whole row of bikes later... WHAT A RIDE!

I think I can.

Nine thirty a.m. Day 1. My little buddy and I are together at the sink peeling skins off the perfectly blushed juicy peaches produced by our very own tree. I start patting myself on the back with these thoughts..." Wow. Look at me in my apron. I sure won't need to buy peaches at the case lot sale! I'm living providently! I'm not wasting the abundance given me. I'm even doing this without much coaching now. I'm working hard for the sake of feeding our family. Spinach smoothies, cobbler for company, this is such a good thing. I feel myself turning into a Lehi Pioneer with every batch! (although always a Dino deep down)."

When John and I bought our first home, he didn't hesitate to plant fruit trees in the backyard so as to carry on his family's home production and storage traditions. And while the idea of extensive yearly canning once seemed old fashioned and overwhelming to me, here I am feeling peachy as can be and actually enjoying myself. Ya know what? I think I CAN! -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Five thirty pm. Day 3. The kids are getting hungry. I can't really make dinner because I have no room on the stove and I won't have anywhere to put the dirty dishes because the sinks are occupied.

Six o clock. Chicken nuggets in the microwave. What can I serve with them? A side of peaches? Kids are not so enthused about them after having hauled load after load into the house.

Seven thirty. John is home and we begin our FHE activity, canning PEARS as a family! Up from my aching feet through my sore back and into my pounding brain come these thoughts: "This stickey floor is going to be a bugger to clean. I sure hope none of the kids get wounded by a knife or burned by scalding stove water. Boy it's hard to get around in the kitchen with my helpers', chairs pulled up to the counters everywhere. Did I remember to start the dishwasher again? Do I need to make more syrup? Are these pears getting too mushy?...Is this REALLY cheaper than the case lot sale? Do these really taste that much better? Did the kids ever get their homework done? Is this a good way to spend so much of our time? We'd better eat every last jar of these this winter!... Syrup dripping, kids dawdling, clock ticking, body exhausting... 42 jars filled. At least 14 to go. I think I can...I think I can... I think I can..."