Halloween

What is there really to say about Halloween? The kids can't ever decide what they want to be, the idea of me making costumes is just a joke, but for some reason Halloween is just a fun holiday; even though it serves no purpose but getting candy from total strangers. I'm not a fan of trick-or-treating...call me the trick-or-treat grinch. I have no problem giving the sweet treats out, but I don't think kids that I don't know should come to my house...just over-protective parenting. Marks sister took my kids trick-or-treating this year...I think she felt sorry for them! Like they don't get enough candy from ME, GRANDPARENTS, and KIDS AT SCHOOL! But they had fun. They also had fun at G & G Beardens Halloween party. Can't wait for next years fun.

Kip as Jengo Fhet...or Buba Fhet, okay I really can't remember.

But he was starwars!

All of the Bearden cousins. Sier was the cartoon Wolverine! He wore that costume for weeks straight.

Cabin

In September we went down to Marks Grandparents Cabin. It's fun even though we go down to WORK!! just kiddin'....we play around a lot too. Some of their "neighboors" (who live a mile down the road) took us out to see some of their property...way cool. They have a small herd of African Long-Horn Cattle, and an old fishing pond. The kids loved seeing the cows, feeding all the fish, and learning how to skip rocks. I've NEVER been able to skip rocks very well, but I'm pretty proud to beable to compete against the kids!! Mark, his Dad, and Sexy Grandpa Jay worked on the wood paneling on the ceiling...it looks so good. They've done a great job down in Joseph, and I can't wait until it's finished! Oh ya, thanks to Jesse & Kurt who helped me realize that I don't want a dog!

This was one of the big Long Horns

Caleb with Sier...(Sier loves

being babied by all the older kids!)

Fish feeding

Kip learning how to skip rocks

See, I told you some people worked!

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!!

Little Sahara

Last weekend we wanted to go boating so bad. About a month ago I "saved the date" on my father-in-laws calender so that we would go....but the weather just hasn't been good enough, and I didn't want to drag everybody along to be freezing cold just so I could get me fat butt in the water. So we went to plan B. What is plan B? Plan B is Marks favorite thing to do in the Spring and Fall....the SAND DUNES! Okay, really...we haven't been for about two years. Life changes when you have kids and have to sell all of your toys. Kip & Sier are the lucky ones who have a four wheeler at this house.
We drove down Friday night and came home Sunday afternoon. The weather was perfect...even though I was freezing when I woke up on Saturday morning. It was really everything you'd expect the Sand Dunes to be....hot, sandy, dusty, and fun. The kids had a fun time at Camp, but they loved riding around in the Ranger. We White Trashed it up a little bit, and zip-tied the big Hawaiian vinyl table cloth to the top of it to provide a little shade..... we got a lot of people looking at us, but don't knock it tell ya try it people, it was a huge lifesaver!
We made the best fire pit ever. We drove everywhere in search of just the right rocks...really it was just another excuse to go cruz around and waste a few hours. We also played "Name who Sings it". The first person who names who sings the song gets a point. It's a game Mark started playing a few years ago with some guys at work while they'd be listening to the radio. But, we forgot our radio, so we made up a different version of it (which I thought was a ton of fun, and I hope to play it more often while we're camping). So we had an ipod that we passed around, and the person had to sing along with the song, and the other people had to guess who sung it. Let me tell you it's nice that none of us could really sing! I'll never forget Jamie singing the Aerosmith song, or Jesse singing "I started these gangster hits". I think Jesse ended up winning.
Needless to say we had a good time, and everybody was safe. The four-wheelers ran, and the 5th wheel is the only way to go...I could live the rest of my life without sleeping in another tent at the Sand Dunes. Some other things I learned this weekend are....little boys don't mind putting their faces in the sand.... picnic tablecloths make great shades....pipes on a four wheeler can still burn your leg even if it doesn't actually touch you...."virgin" margaritas taste great....I have a very patient husband....Steven and Jamie actually do fight....you can make "sand angels" that look just as good as "snow angels"....we'll always have to wait for Kurt....and I have the most patient husband in the world. Thanks Jesse, Kurt, Jamie, Steven, Mark, Kip, and Sier for such a great time!

Magic on the Mountain

While Kip was off track we took the kids to Six Flags Magic Mountain. Sier said is really is called Magic on the Mountain. Kip LOVED it more than anything else. He's finally tall enough to go on a lot of BIG rides. By big, I really mean HUGE!! Roller Coasters going over 70 miles an hour, doing flips and spins, going through fire, shooting strait down to earth! HE LOVED IT!!! Sier's favorite place is still 7 Peaks. He would rather be there than anywhere, but he enjoyed the log rides, and the kid town. Siers favorite part was getting to meet the "real Batmam". He had to go back and ask him how he got there because he wanted to see the Batmobile. Batman thought that was hilarious. Sier also liked the log rides that you got wet on. We all got season passes to go back there...I can't wait to take Kip back! He still can't go on ALL the rides, but most of them.
Oh ya...we also went to a movie in Hollywood....NEVER AGAIN! We are so stupid!!! How did we know that it would be $50.00 for a matinee showing for 2 adults and 2 kids? I felt so violated...of course we didn't get drinks or popcorn to go with the movie...and Kip was dying with thirst! We are such mean parents.
We also got to take the kids to the ocean. They had so much fun doing that, the temperature outside was warm, but the water was still cold...but that didn't stop them! They played in the water with their clothes on, even though we had swimming suites in the car! They've decided that the ocean water is DISGUSTING. It would get on there lips, and they would try to lick it off.... gross. One time Sier was trying to wipe the taste of it off his tongue with his sea-salty hands...FUNNY. We can't waite to go next time. One time with just adults only hopefully...any takers???

January 1st

Kip & Makade

Sier

Brooklynn & Makade

Mark on Kip & Sier's four wheeler

Sneakin' a treat

Jax, Kip, Makade

Braxton taking a break!

Alex, Sier, Grandpa

Kip & Nicole

Gus

All the Kids racing for the hill

My Family is trying to start a new tradition to go to tubing/sledding/four wheeling every January 1st. We started it in 2008, and hopefully it will continue. This year was great...the weather really was perfect. No wind, it was warm- but not warm enough to melt any snow. I forgot my coat! But I had enough layers on to keep me nice and toasty! The kids had a ton of fun, and the fire was great. Now all we need is snow every year ;)

Utah Game!

I know this is LATE! But Way to go UTES....we're going to a Bowl. Who knows what one, but Mark and I are going to TRY to go.

Trick or Treat

Okay, I have no pictures to post because the kids looked the same as they did at the Halloween Party. Now that the kids are getting older, Halloween is FUN! Kip had the "Halloween Parade" at the school that I went to- He was the only Obi-Won that I saw, there were a lot of other Star Wars people though! Sier thought it was pretty cool and was talking about it the rest of the day. When it came time to go trick-or-treating Kip didn't want to go!!! We had to drive around to see Grandparents and Aunts & Uncles so we left about 4:30, and he was mad because it wasn't dark outside yet-and we all know- you go trick-or-treating in the dark! When the time came to finally go around the neighborhood he was pretty excited. Sier was HILARIOUS! He ran to every body's doors and was so excited about getting treats. They were both very polite and said thank you and wished them a "Happy Halloween" before they closed the door. There is a little girl in Kips class that lives around the corner and they both really like each other. She even told one of my friends that she's going to marry Kip and wear a pretty white dress!! She's never known what house is ours, but she found it when she came trick-or-treating and was sooo excited! They are funny!!
Other than that, not a lot is going on...We've been working a lot in our yard, and it's going to be great next summer! More on that in another post!

Pumpkin Patch

We picked pumpkins the other day, and thought I share some pictures with everybody! We will be carving them later....