Summer '10 in Utah

Look at the smiling, carefree faces of these little country bumpkins. This is what life is all about in the country!

They held hands and ran in circles around the sprinklers giggling the entire time.

This was the 24th of July weekend so we got to see a buggy riding into town on its way to the horse parade. LOVE IT!

We had so much fun lighting fireworks. I cranked up my iPod and we listenend to patriotic music and danced around as the fireworks lit up the driveway.  The next day the neighbors thanked us for the show we put on for them.

Nothing like a parade when it's 100 degrees! At least they got some pretty good candy!

Poor me! This is my backyard where I grew up in Fairview, Ut. Now you know why I love it so much. BEAUTIFUL!

Mamma and Papa Shoff took us all to "This is the Place" monument in SLC. Seriously the highlight of our trip. What an amazing place and the kids LOVED being with their cousins!

My dad would be so proud of his little granddaughter attempting to be a farmer.

So sweet!

Isaac, Caroline, Brady. Best cousins, best friends!

I LOVE this litte man wearing his daddy's Harvard hat! So handsome!

Scott and Zach

These little boys had so much fun just being little boys!

This is the cabinet maker's shop and apparently he makes coffins too. Not my favorite pic, but Hayes is always the comedian!

Look at this! Ike and Caroline having a tea party. So cute!

Caroline's 3rd Birthday

Happy Birthday Sweet Caroline! We had a 4th of July bbq for her birthday. The Fellars and the Afualos came and we had a great time.
I can't believe my baby is 3 years old.

Disneyland in May

Tate. Ethan, Tyler, Zach, Hayes, Scott

The Jake and Emily Shoffs and Jason and Lindsey McRoberts Families

Jake was such a trooper taking all of the kids on the Grizzly Rapids ride. They got wet!!!

One of these days WE WILL get a decent pic at D-land. However, not this day!

We had such a great time when the Jason,  Lindsey & kids and Jake, Emily & kids came to stay with us. We had ten kids under the age of nine staying in our home and it was fabulous. We put the kids to bed and then we play Mexican Train until the wee hours of the morning. Good times!

Can't wait until they come back for another visit!

HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY TYLER!

Tyler turned 7 years old on February, 27th. Really, his only wish was to go to Chuck E. Cheese and to invite his friend Daniel. Thankfully, Tyler doesn't really care about all of the bells and whistles of a big birthday bash with loads of presents, friends, and entertainment that most children desire. He really is content to get a present or two and eat cake and ice cream. I realize that there will come a time when this will probably change, but for now I'm just so grateful that Ty is such an easy, happy little boy that can enjoy the simple things in life.


We didn't get any pics at Chuck E. Cheese because the kids were all over the place and we were so busy trying to keep track of them all, that we didn't have a chance to snap any pictures. His birthday fell on a Saturday and it was raining outside so you can probably guess how insanely busy it was!

We came home after and ate cake and ice cream. Tyler was so excited to finally open his presents. He got a new bike, legos, bakugans, books and the game Twister. He also got a really cool solar system puzzle and game from Grandpa Carl and Grandma Mary Ann.

Tyler is a sweet, caring, kind, funny, smart and adorable little boy. I am continually learning from his optimism and good attitude. He has a quick temper, but it's usually here and gone in a few seconds. He loves, loves, loves playing with his brothers, cousins, friends and he is super protective of his little sister. He really likes school and he loves learning about new things. Some of his favorite things are sharks, the solar system, bakugans, legos, jumping on the trampoline, watching football with his dad (especially BYU and the Chargers), baseball, body boarding, swimming, running club, and last, but not least piano. One thing he does get very sad about is how much he misses our extended family. Everyone lives in Utah except the Ben and Amanda Shoff clan and us. He really misses his grandparents and cousins.

Our family recently got a new book called "Have You Filled a Bucket Today". This wonderful little book teaches how everyone has an invisible bucket and you help fill the bucket for the people you care about with kind deeds, good thoughts and nice words. It also teaches you how to recognize when their buckets are starting to get empty, then you work to help them fill it up again. Tyler has a special gift of being a bucket filler. Thanks Ty, for helping to keep my bucket full!

I love you little dude and I hope you've had a very Happy Birthday!

P.S. Daniel is Ty's friend and  he tends to tease Scott relentlessly. The very bottom picture is of Scott. I asked Scott what he was doing in the giftbags and he said "Mom, I'm hiding from Daniel. Do you think he can see me?".

Invisible Woman

A friend emailed me this short video clip and I found it very inspiring. If you're interested in a good, uplifting message for all of you mommies...I recommend this. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YU0aNAHXP0

Tenth Anniversary Dream Vacation

Aloha! We had so much fun going to the beautiful island of Maui with Chris' brother Jake and his wife Emily.

I was so nervous to go for ten days and leave my babies, but a fabulous young couple that goes to our church stayed with them at our home. The kids were well taken care of and happy every time we called. That helped me enjoy the aloha spirit even more. Seriously...I don't know if I've ever felt so relaxed in my life.

Maui is beautiful and a place where the summer is truly endless. We spent ample time relaxing, but we also had some serious fun. I saw whales pretty much every time I gazed out at the ocean...they were everywhere. That was one of my favorite things about this trip.

I experienced black sand beaches, waterfalls, the road to Hana (A.M.A.Z.I.N.G), Annie's shaved ice (five-ish times:) pools, two massages, green squishy foliage, bamboo forests, towel boys hitting on Emily and I by inviting us to a party (the guys were golfing and that should teach 'em to leave us poolside and man-less), shopping, Mexican trains, Super Bowl at Outback, going to the gym with my hubby almost every day, bbq-ing, rice with coconut rum (the alcohol boiled out), Dear John (movie), fabulous restaurants, sushi, giant, fresh avocados, mangos and of course pineapple.

I loved spending some much needed time with Chris and what a way to celebrate our tenth anniversary! I love him more today than ever...and I would've never guessed that was possible.

Jake and Em, what can I say...MAHALO and you guys are the best! Miss and love you and I can't wait until we go to Kauai! :)

I missed my kids terribly, but now I feel so rested and content that I feel I'm a much better mommy and wife!

ALOHA!

DONE WITH 2009! FINALLY!

I set aside this whole evening to finally finish up my families' 2009 events.

My New Year's resolution for blogging:

1. I will learn to enjoy it!
2. It will not be a monkey on my back.
3. I won't care if nobody comments. I have this weird issue that if nobody posts a comment that it means I     really suck as a blogger! It's for my posterity anyway, so why do I care if I don't get instant gratification for my efforts! :)
4. I will keep reminding myself that this is for my posterity!
5. I will get 2010 posted before 2011.

We'll see how it goes. Wish me luck and I bid you all a good-night. This much blogging in one night can't be good for a body or a mind. I’m exhausted!

P.S. Please be forgiving of the typos and grammatical errors in the last six posts. I now have a new respect for my husband that works into the wee hours of the morning reading, writing and disecting huge documents. I love you babe!