I LOVE YOU

sorry, i don't love you...i love diet pepsi with 2 squirts of cherry in it. everyday i have to have one. sometimes i have two. i crave the stuff. i get irritable if i don't have it. i can't even think about walking down those dreaded stairs to work without it in my hand. i love it on monday mornings, tuesdays, wednesdays, thursdays, fridays, a few of them on saturdays, and yes mark always goes to the gas station to buy me on on sundays. that's where i see one of my sister-in-laws the most, at the gas station. pepsi is my cocaine, but with 2 squirts of cherry it's my "personal brand of heroine" (hurry, name that movie). i have a problem. i could save $30.00 a month if i didn't have to have it. my grandma always told me with all the money i save from not drinking coffee, alcohol, or smoking cigarettes that i would be rich someday. too bad i love diet pepsi so much, so i'm only going to be half as rich. i don't like it out of the can so much. it has to be the fountain. so, now i'm off....to get my diet pepsi with 2 squirts of cherry. i need help.

"When I grow up..."

Our future "X-Gamer"

Yuba

Over the 24 of July we went to Yuba for 4 days with some Family & Friends....and had a ton of fun! But, first of all guess what? I know, you'll never guess so I'll just tell you....I only water skied ONE time! Can you believe it? I don't know what it was, but I just wanted to be LAZY and let other people have a good time, and it was great. When we were getting ready to go, I was thinking that four days of Yuba would get BORING, but I was wrong! When we were getting ready to come home, I just wanted one more day. (probably my inner Psyche secretly wanting to ski.) Kip & Sier both had such a good time on the boat, and the LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Jamie & Steves new tube....I think everybody did. We didn't get Kip up on the ski's! I don't know if he'll ever want to. Last year he did it, but we forced him to...so this year I've just told myself that when he's ready he'll ask....well, I'm still waiting for him to ask! But progress is being made because he'll at least tube, and jump in the water from the boat. Mark also put together a couples horseshoe tournament. I don't know what he was thinking, because I've NEVER thrown a shoe in my life...which is surprising because Mark takes them every time we go camping or anywhere for that matter! Poor Mark, he really had to carry me the WHOLE time. We ended up in 3rd place, being beat out by Steven & Jamie (you guys suck). But Shelly & Mike beat everybody (Losers). Ya'll just wait, I'm practicing and I'll be back next year maybe get a ringer!

Kurt, Steve, Jamie, Lara, Kim

Mark & JR...probably talking softball

Steve's too sexy for a shirt

Kurt & JR! Don't ask me who's who!

JR & Kurt need to take lessons form these

little studs. Kip, Coltin, & Conner

Coltin is the best skier in the world!

Sier

Kaitlynn & the boys

This is what we grow

Last fall we threw a pumpkin in the garden not knowing what we were getting ourselves into! I pulled out so many little pumpkins this spring it was ridiculous- But I did keep a few plants, and BAM!! they are taking over the garden. They are growing all over the cement pad, in the back neighbors field, on my tomato cages...everywhere! But we love it. Some have turned orange already, and are ready to be picked, others are just teeny tiny still. The kids can't wait to carve them for Halloween!

doughnuts & couch potatoes

Over the weekend Mark & I took the kids to hike up doughnut falls. It was so much fun to do it with them... other than they complained the whole walk up about it being so far. Man, I have a couple of couch potatoes for kids. The hike is really easy, even though the kids didn't watch where they walked so there were a few twisted ankles! None of us had been to doughnut falls before, so we weren't quite sure what to expect. When we saw it we were all amazed....so we had to hike up to the top of the falls where the water goes in the rock. The kids loved the "rock climbing" and did a great job. At first Kip was nervous to put his feet on rocks that might make them a little wet, but he loosened up after a little while. Next time, I have to wear real shoes...I wore flip-flops (because I always do). But I had intended on taking shoes and socks, but I had just painted my toenails and didn't want to ruin them! I can't wait to go in the spring when there's more water.

First Grade!!

Well, it's come and gone....Kips first day of first grade. I think he liked it, but he's a hard one to read or get information out of. All I know is that he got to sit by his best pal Parker at lunch, and he has another friend who sits at his table in class. Oh, and he told me that it was a really long day. But I think he liked it.

How We've Spent Our Summer Vacation

I know! It's been awhile right??? What can I say, life gets so busy for us around here...and we only have 2 kids! (which by the way IS NOT an announcement that everybody seams to be waiting for....more on that later [maybe].)
We've been very lucky to have a nice, good, SAFE summer. We've been really busy doing family things, and the "fun things to do list". We haven't had much time to do anything else! We also have been lucky for Mark to be "busy" at work....by this I mean have at least SOME work to do. With all the side-jobs he's had it seams like he's always working. But that's okay, because it seams like I never am! (yes, I only worked 3 hours last week!!! and it was great. Hopefully it will cover my Dental Insurance! I'm laughing really hard right now, because I really hope it will!)So now, a quick run through of how our summer has been SO FAR. Just because school starts, doesn't mean summers over!

I think one of the last times I blogged, Kip had just gotten done with swimming lessons, so that's where I'll pick up....at Siers swimming lessons! He had so much fun, and did sooo well. Last year they had to bring in another teacher to take care of just him since he wouldn't even get in the water. But this year he did awesome. He loves to swim!

Sier also had his last day of Preschool with Mrs. Amy at Magic Moments preschool. He really has loved every second of it, but it's time for me to move on with a new school. So next year he will be going to Mrs. Butterfield!!! He is so excited to be going 3 days a week, and so am I!

In June Jamie had her Luau. She'd been wanting to have one for YEARS. It was really fun...really windy...really cold. I felt so bad for her! But thanks Jamie & Steve for the excuse to dress up! Next time I'll get some water-melon shells to wear since Coconuts don't fit.

Jeri, Jamie, Jessi, Me, & Kim...we were all freezing!!!

Next on the picture list is.....Independence day! I love the 4th of July. Summer, Food, Fireworks, Family, Friends, Softball. Mark put another team together for the 4th of July Tournament that the town does every year. They start the night of the 3rd, and then start again on the morning of the 4th. They did pretty good, and had a good team. The kids and I watched the parade at Marks parents house, while Mark played him some ball. Of course they had fun, but this year they weren't all into the candy like they are every other year. The highlight for the 4th of July for the Kip & Sier this year was to see Transformers 2 on the IMAX screen. They talked about it for weeks ahead, and they weren't disappointed! We went with some cousins and friends and had a fun time! The fireworks down at the city were great too! We've figured out a great spot to lay down and watch them, and every year it's better and better. We also went to a BBQ at Jeri & Cory's house...all I have to say is our kids are getting BIG! Okay, and that the BBQ was fun! I LOVE THE MONTH OF JULY!!! Here are a few pics of the 4th

Kip & Sier at the Parade

The Kids at the BBQ

Watching Fireworks

Steven & Jamie ( I love this pic. of Jamie)

J.R. & Kim...thanks JR

Jeri, Me & Bree

In July we went camping with my family up to Granite Flats in American Fork Canyon. I haven't been to those campgrounds since I was YOUNG...It is so beautiful. I've been trying to get Mark to go there for years, but he never has wanted to, but I think he's changed his mind. My mom did a "bear hunt" with all the kids. She had little treasures all over the trail that they found. She had such random things from leathermans to measuring cups! At the end of the trail there was a HUGE bag of gummie bears (that's where the "bear hunt" came from). The kids loved their treasures, and they loved trying to trade Jaxon for his leatherman...somehow rulers and measuring cups aren't as cool. Mark took the tent up to sleep in, but forgot the poles!!! So we put the kids in the trailer with Grandma and Grandpa, and slept in the back of the truck. It was also suppose to be HOT that weekend, so we didn't take anything but blankets for Mark and Me, so Craig and Jera lent us an extra sleeping bag....good thing because it was cold as H*ll that night. The next day we went for a ride up the canyon, and played. Amanda, Tim & his son Taylor came up that afternoon, and played cards with us. Kip, Sier, and Taylor all had a blast feeding the chipmunks and trying to figure out which chipmunk was Alvin, Simon, and Theodore. Sier really thinks the "Chipmunks" are real. I can't wait to go up to those campgrounds again!

Alex, Nicole, Kyler, Kip, Jaxon, Sier eating dinner.....mmmmm

Dancing on the rock

Going on the bear hunt

This is the only little girl to like Mark. Not only does she like him, she LOVES him. And she loves to put chapstick on him!

Brooklynn posing in her cow helmet.

Helmet Heads!

Mark & Me. Sometimes we like each other.

Alex got so mad at me when I gave her the broken cup, and then took pictures of her! She is the sassiest girl I know....I LOVE HER.

Taylor, Kip, and Sier watching and waiting for "Theodore" to come eat more bread.

Steven & Whitney (who claim they're "not together") went to six flags with us! It was so much fun...but so exhausting. We were late getting to the SLC airport, so we had to park in the garage or we would have missed our flight...which was way $$$$$. Next time we'll need to wake up a lot earlier! BUT we had a lot of fun with them. We went on a Wednesday...so good. We walked on most of the rides, and some we rode twice in a row. I was sick almost all day- and by the dinner time I was ready to go back to the hotel, but Mark made me stay! I'm starting to get sick when I fly, and then to go on all of those roller coasters- it didn't help. I need to start taking motion sickness pills before I fly...man, I'm getting old. But I didn't through up, and I went on all the rides, so It was a success. Kip can't wait to go again! Oh ya, this is really funny....Sier stayed home with Jera and Craig; right before we were leaving to take Sier there Kip realized that Sier got to stay their for 2 nights, and started getting upset. This is the conversation that took place... Kip "it's not fair that Sier gets to stay at Makade and Jaxons house for two nights mom!" Me: "Well it's not fair that you get to go to Six Flags and Sier doesn't." Sier: "But guess what Kip!? I don't even care!" Oh my gosh it was hilarious to listen to. Oh ya!....it was so hot and humid! We have these water bottles that you can refill all throughout the park, and I'm not exaggerating when I say we filled them at least 20 times! We would get water every time, but for some reason our bodies just held onto all the water, I was so bloated by the middle of the day I had kankles, and you couldn't even see the bones on top of my foot. My ring was stuck on my finger, and I couldn't pee! None of us did, it was the weirdest thing ever.

Kip got soaked on a ride!

Mark holding our water bottles!

Steven, Rachel & Whit after the "Riddlers Revenge"

Kip & me at the end of a LONG day.

This summer I also tried to do a lot with the kids during the week. I made up a "fun things" to do list that I emailed and sent to a lot of different people. It didn't go all that great, but we sure had fun! I took the kids to see "Ice Age" it was great, I would definitely recommend...laughed through the whole show. We also went to Splash Parks, swimming, and up to the Copper Mine. I only took my camera to the copper mine though! (and I'm soo sorry for ditching Jera and her kids at the park!) That's what happens when you don't charge your cell phone! We also got to see them do some exposives...amazing...you couldn't even hear or feel anything! They only explode two times a day, so we were pretty lucky to see it.

Kip looking down in the mine...did you know that it's 2 miles wide?

Sier needed help

Kayden, Max, Kip, Kyle, Ethan, Sier, Konner

You should click to enlarge this to read it...amazing!!

Hey There

I know! I've been so behind on blogging, I don't even know where to start....or where to find the time to even think about it. So, over the next few days I really plan on being caught up with everything from Yuba to softball tournaments. And can I mention that our front steps keep FALLING APART??? Yes, they are crumbling to pieces even as I write this. Everyday I go out there I find another piece of concrete that's crumbled off. Now the only things holding the hand railings are the screws that attach it to the house. Now that just plane sucks. I'll go take some pictures of it so you can all see what I'm talking about. Even though a lot of you know because you come to my house and can't count on the handrail for any kind of support. And all my neighbors hear me scream at my kids because the stand on the railing and I just know it's going to fall over with them on it. That stupid thing is my stress for today, sorry you all had to hear about it. Every corner where the rails were bolted down has crumbled away! last year it was only one side of it, but now both sides are gone. AARRGG!
This is the newest avalanche victim. Nothing supporting it now!

The Lake!

Friday night we FINALLY were able to go boating. I have been DYING to get out on the lake. Already this year we've had to cancel two boating trips because of the monsoons that we've been having here....NOT FUN. Steve and Jamie are so AWESOME to take us out! I have to say that I am way out of shape, because I am sore from the 5 minutes of skiing/wakeboarding that I did! Kip and Sier have always LOVED being on the boat, and they are starting to know how to run the boat...so they think. They have made huge progress since last year because they actually wanted to swim off the back of the boat! They have NEVER wanted to do that before. All of the adults just sat and watched in disbelief. Kip rode the knee board, and can't wait to do it next weekend at Yuba...so excited for that.