Summer at the Beach

This blog is also in continuation to "Summer Vacationing." We took the kids to the Alpine Peppermint Factory, (it has a different name now and I can't remember what it is) and they got to pick out a little treat. I also found a 5 lb. box of chocolates for $8. That was a great treat for me! We also took them to this Discovery Park and they had a great time running and playing at the park. When is a park not fun for kids? :)



Carter and his new best friend AJ.


Calissa helping Mason. She was so wonderful with the kids.

Seriously working up a thirst!

We stayed most of the week with Matt's Uncle Randall and Aunt Jill Beach. So, we didn't really go to the "beach" but it was lots of fun being in the Beach's home. :) Carter and Chloe had a blast with AJ, who really is a cousin (2nd cousin even!) Even Mason played with them everyday. They have an acre lot with goats and chickens, so the kids had fun being around the animals. They just played their little hearts out each and every day. Carter said that one evening when it was a little dark outside, AJ told them "ghost stories" on the trampoline. When I heard that I was glad that I wasn't out there...I hate scary stories!!! :) You wonder how scary the stories could actually be, as young as they are. Anyway, he said they didn't get scared. :) These pictures were of the kids playing in the water and jumping on the trampoline. Mason of course kept stripping down...nothing new for him.


He like it best when he was alone on the trampoline...and the other kids liked it better when he wasn't bugging them while they were jumping. It is hard being the "little guy."
We are so grateful for Randall and Jill allowing us to stay in their home. It was so much fun visiting with them. Jill and I always had so much to talk about and we chattered away until the kids were screaming for food, or reminding us that it was naptime. By the time Matt and Randall would get home in the evenings and we would get the little kids to bed, we would gear up for another long night chatting with all their older kids. It was exhausting by the end of the week. We had spent some really late nights talking, so we finally had to give ourselves a curfew. Randall and Jill aren't as young as they used to be! :) Just kidding. Josie was well taken care of by Kerstin and Calissa the two older girls and it was a wonderful break for me. We just can't thank them enough for all that they did for us. It was a great week!

Meeting up with my Ricks College Roomates!!!

Well, this blob "blurb" is in continuation with the previous "Summer Vacationing." We spent the first couple days of our trip to Utah visiting some of my best friends in the world. We spent a couple great years at Ricks College back in 1993-1995. Many of my roommates still live in Utah so they get together often. Well, all of them do, but me. So this was a special trip for me to get to be part of the reunion. I realized how much I miss each of them and the great times we have laughing together.

I got to visit with Krissy as we passed through Provo and see her home. It was so fun meeting her little girls and talking to her and her husband. I totally forgot to get a picture with her...darn me! I think my brain was fried from travelling all day...

This first picture is Loralee and Dayna. It was fun talking to them and each of us sharing our stories about how we "fell in love" with our spouses. We haven't really had a chance to do that. It was a great reminissing opportunity. Sara was also there, but once again...I didn't pull out the camera until she was gone. Darn me again!
Here is Becky, and Loralee. We spent the whole day together with our 8 kids. It was a wild and VERY fun adventure. We started out at the park where the kids had a great time playing in the sand...see the pictures.


Mason looking into the future with Syd. :)
Chloe posing for another "photo shoot."

Brianna having a sad moment, but what a great picture Becky. I have to thank Becky for sharing her camera abilities. I supplied the memory card and she used her fancy schmancy camera. Now I want one!
Cute kids. Chloe thinks they are all cousins. :) She and Rachel (far right) became great friends because they are both 4.

Carter and Erin were great pals too. Carter misses her.
After the park we went to Becky's home and watched our roommate video. It was just as funny...ok maybe funnier than it was when we made it. Becky and I took a ton of pictures at College and then secretly developed the film and put together a picture video with music. We have watched it many times and it usually tortures anyone other than the roommates. We used to say that the man that would watch the roommate video with us...was worth marrying. Well, I don't know if any of our "men" have watched it, in its entirity...but nonetheless, it is a beautiful video!!! As we were watching, we were able to remember how carefree those college days were and how they are good memories to reflect on, when times get hard.

Becky bought us pizza and we sat out on the front lawn and ate dinner. Thank goodness for beautiful green grass...something we are waiting to do to our yard in New Mexico. We still have a very large sand pit.
And shall we say "Hooray for capri-sun?" I think everyone got two. :)
These are Becky's cute girls, Aubree and Sydnee. (Hope their names are spelled right!)
Loralee with Colton and Brianna.

Even Josie wanted to get in on the dinner. She decided licking the plate would do.

Lots of kisses from Brianna.
Then we went to a splash park in Ogden by Becky's home. It was fun for the kids to play and get wet. They had a very exhausting day! I am sure that they all slept quite well that night.
I am so grateful to have such great friends. Months and even years slip by without contact, and it is nice to know that when we reunite, it seems like time has stood still. We really can pick right back up where we left off and catch up on everything quickly.

I think friends are God's way of taking care of us. I am grateful to be well taken care of!

Thanks for spending time with me and helping me remember who I am.

Summer Vacationing to Utah

So, this summer Matt signed up for a Designer Surfaces class, for our business, in Heber City, Utah, so I gathered up the kids and told him we were coming along for the ride. He went to Kentucky last year for a class and left me home pregnant with 3 little kids for a week. Now, speaking from experience, I told him that I wasn't going to do that again! :) My rationalization was that we have a lot of friends and family in Utah and I could keep myself and the kids busy while he was at class. So, the next couple blog "blurbs" will be from our trip. They were different enough experiences that I have decided to split them up, rather than lump them all together and get really confusing. The kids had a hard enough time trying to figure out who we were going to visit next, and where we were going to sleep for the night. They just decided to call all the kids they met "cousins" because it seemed easier that way! :) It was a great trip and we travelled over beautiful country. Hence, we have decided there are a lot of places we still need to "live" in...if moving weren't so difficult of a task. These pictures were taken as we travelled to Utah; in Northern New Mexico, Southwest Colorado (Cortez, CO was our favorite!), and Southern Utah (Moab was beautiful Shay...we need you to give us the tour!) The trip lasted about 10 hours and the kids were fabulous! Of course, they had their music, DVD's and lots of treats to keep them busy! I was really good too because I had my new found addiction of chocolate. So, I am a late addict...but I have seen the light on how addicting/delicious chocolate is!Love these cool rock formations!
Carter thought they looked like cupcakes.

Chloe just sang as loud as she could...not realizing that we couldn't hear her music...SO CUTE!!
Josie wore herself out having so much fun!
Carter doesn't say a word as long as the DVD player is on. He has always been a "Movie Kid."
Mason even travelled well...as long as we kept his mouth busy. He doesn't talk much, but he makes a lot of "huh" noises.
Yes, I take travelling very seriously!
Isn't Cortez beautiful?
I love this picture that I got by chance, as we zoomed by. I think I miss having horses around. My kids are dying for a horseback ride. The last time they rode a horse was at the Twin Falls Idaho Fairgrounds. That was Chloe's first and last ride. Pathetic!

Travelling with Matt, the artist, we all notice color everywhere. It is amazing how Heavenly Father uses color in his landscapes. I am grateful that Matt helps me and our children gain a greater appreciation for the beauty around us.
Simple, yet SO beautiful.

Well, stay tuned for the rest of our trip...We were gone August 2nd through 12th. We had a great time and it took us at least a week to be glad to be home. Those are the kind of trips we need to take more of. Grateful that we were blessed to have the means and ability to take a trip!