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!

State Fair

Jera and I decided to take the kids to the State Fair on opening day because tickets were only 2 dollars for adults on opening day, and the kids were free!! There's nothing like cheap entertainment! The kids loved looking at the animals, and they did so good walking around all day. They did a hands on exhibit where they were farmers... it was really fun for them. They had to feed cows, then milk the cows; They got to plant seeds and harvest them; comb a sheep; pick up the hay; gather the eggs; take their produce to market; and at the end they got to buy a treat with the money they made taking their produce to the market. They had a lot of fun! We also got to see a 14 foot alligator, tigers, a huge robot, clowns, and a lot of other cool things. We let them go on one carnival ride- it was 3 dollars a kid! Good thing I only have 2 kids!! We were there for a bout four hours, and by the time we were done the kids were tired, and mad at us because we forgot were we parked! So here's Jera and I walking around Rose Park with 6 tired, grumpy kids! Kip and Makade were so mad at us, and Makade knew the whole time we were going the wrong way, maybe parents don't always know best!

Skate Park

Braxton & Nicole
Braxton Giles
Braxton Bearden
Kip
Makade
Sier
Rhyen & Sier
Sier, Addie, Faith, Alex, Rhyen
Braxton Giles
Brooklynn & Presley
When we were little the cool thing was the Riverton Pool, and Marv Jensen. Now we have splash parks and skate parks.
My kids LOVE the skate park. Yesterday Beckie, Jera, Cami and I decided to take the kids there. I had Braxton, Rhyen & Presley with me, so thanks to everybody who helped with them. It was a lot of fun to watch all the amazing things that the older kids can do....I don't know what I'll do when I see my kids trying some of those things- ahhh!
Next time it's off to the skate park in Park City...It looks amazing, and Kip talks about it everyday. Thank the Lord for Helmets!

Yuba

When I look back on the fun times that I've had in my life, most of them involve a boat and a lake. My little family has such a fun time when we put the both of those together.....the kids love to play in the sand and on the tubes, and Mark and I love to just be there with them. Kip and Sier are so great because they are always up for a boat ride and don't complain when we've been on it for hours on end! Sier just usually climbs underneith the drivers chair and falls asleep, and Kip could sit in the bow of the boat all day long if you let him.
Mark has great parents who took us out for the day. We weren't the only ones who got to go though....Joni & Kary with their kids were there, Kurt & Jesse got there pretty late in the afternoon, Steven came to hang out, and our friends Ashley & Dave came with us too.
Ashley and I were able to keep Sier on the tube...which he really wasn't sure about, but I'm pretty sure he liked it. Their daughter Rhyen got on the tube as well. I think the kids had a hard time getting on the tube because they saw Mark give Ashley and me a really good ride, and that probably scared them just a LITTLE bit. Kip skied again, and that gave our nephew Kayden motivation he needed to finally give it a try. He did great, he can get the ski's on by himself, get started by himself, and get back to the boat by himself. Kayden did awesome!!! Dave got up on one ski too!!! He was pretty excited, and so were we. Ashley gave my ski a good try.....next time I know she'll beable to get up!
The fun ended on the last run of the night, which we didn't know would be the last run! A HUGE wind storm came in! I'm not talking about the usual Yuba wind, it was AMAZING. There were canopies and tarps breaking, tubes and boogie boards flying away in the wind, a beached boat was half way sunk. Kip was terrified! He hates wind and storms and when we got back to the beach he was on the brink of a complete meltdown, so I got him in the truck, out of the wind. He did save Marks favorite hat from blowing away! What an adventure- the waves were just like the ocean....and 30 minutes before I was yelling at Mark to take me out because the water was soo smooth! We had to waite to load the boat until the water died down a little bit, wich was quite a while. When they were finally able too, Mark got the truck stuck up to his axels-Way to go Mark!
Thanks Phisters for letting us enjoy your boat, and inviting us to go with you. We have made so many fun memories because of you willingness to share your boat with us!! I'm sure glad you got it.

Let Freedom Ring

The fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. I love the sun, the fun, the late nights, the friends and family....everything. This year the Phisters had a big family reunion, so we were with them a lot this 4th.
The celebration started with the parade.Luckily Marks Parents live right on the parade route, and have some of the best shade in town. While we were at the parade Mark had his Softball Tournament. They ended up only playing 3 games, better luck next year! After the parade was over we went to the park to watch "The Bee Movie." The kids had a lot of fun. On the Fourth we went to watch Kayden & Ethan get pulled behind the four wheelers by their dad and Grandpa. They did really good, and got really dirty. The fourth was just the usual family, friends, and BBQ. It was a great day, ending in some fun Fireworks down at the park. We found out the price you pay for laying right under the fireworks is that ash falls all over you. Oh well....a small price to pay for some good firework watchin!
The next day we were off to 7 Peaks with everybody. It was soooo much fun to take the kids. They love water slides.Kip was able to go on everything, and he almost did....his favorite was the boomerang, which most adults won't even go on. Sier loved the Kid pool and the kid slides, but he also loved the tube slides with us. If you ask Kip what his favorite place on earth is he will tell you 7 Peaks, not Disneyland!
I hope my kids learned that the 4th of July isn't just a fun time of year, but it's a day we celebrate our founding Fathers, and our freedom. Thank you to all the men and women who went before us to give us this beautiful land, and our wonderful heritage. Thank you to everybody who has given their lives to make all of the celebrations possible. God Bless America!!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Herriman Days

I know, we don't even live in Herriman, but we still have fun at their Town Days. Craig and Jera live right on the parade route, so over the past couple of years it has kind of become a tradition that we watch the parade there. It was a great parade, TONZ of candy for the kids, not too long for the adults.
After the parade we cooled down at Craig and Jera's....went to the carnival....the kids broke a Karate Board (they think they're soooo tough) & we got our Texas Twister drinks (one of my favorites). Later that night we met for a BBQ and played a mean game of Wiffle Ball- thank you Eric for letting us use your yard, it took some convincing, but we finally managed to play a couple games. Cami couldn't waite to run the bases to help get her baby out, I do have to say Jori was way faster than you....but she has a few months left, not a few days. We ended the night by watching fireworks from the backyard.....I love fireworks! Thank you Jera & Craig for all of your hard work and letting us have such a fun day with you guys.

Did you hear?

Wicked!!! (Kips FAVORITE word)
Crashing isn't' all that bad is it?
This is as close as it gets for Sier on the tube
Kip, Jamie, Lauren, Conner Lauren, one of the cutest girls on the planet!
Lauren & her mom Kim....She's Prego:)
Kim's husband JR
Steve falling on his butt!
Mark clearing the wake
50 years, and can still ski
Mark on the Ski
Jamie on our ski!
Shelly thought she would blow out a knee, but pulled it off
Steve & Mark anchoring down the boat
Peyton & his HUGE muscles carrying the rock to anchor the boat
Peyton burying his girlfriend Annie- she is so fun!
Everybody playing Hale Mary
Me and my Ho (that's the name of my water ski)
Mark and me!
Kip learning how to drive the boat
Chip lips

Kip is a Water-Skiing Fool!!! We were finally able to go boating this year- and my gosh it was fun. Summertime is officially here, we have boating fever again. I don't think there's any family activity that I enjoy more than sitting on a boat at a lake.

We went down to Yuba with a bunch of people for the weekend, and Steve and Jamie brought their boat...THANKS GUYS!!!! I love Jamie and Steven....and their boat, I'm just glad they know that I'm a serious boating buddy and will go anytime, day or night, all they have to do is call.

The big accomplishment came from Kip this weekend. He learned how to ski, and he had fun while he was doing it! We've had ski's for him for a few years, but he has never dared. We went to the Boat Show a few months ago and Kip found a wakeboard that he wanted really bad, so we made a deal. The deal is if he can ski and crash without any help, then we will buy him a wakeboard. That's all it took, and he is a skier now. Mark had to help him into the ski's, but when he was done he was able to swim to the boat by himself, so he's halfway there! He also enjoyed the tube this trip also, I think it helped having other boys there to encourage him on. We still can't talk Sier into tubing, or skiing. He is usually so fearless of things, but there is something about the water that just gets to my boys, they LOVE being on a boat, and rafting down the river, but actually getting in just terrifies them. One day we will get Sier out there!

Mark was awesome on the wakeboard, he us getting better about landing almost anything he does. He also got the good old slalom ski out and road that for a little while, the ski isn't anything special, so he wasn't on it for long. Of course I was on the water with my Ho. (that's the name of my ski) The water was good, but there were big roller waves and they kill my legs, so there was nothing special buy me on the ski. But I did wakeboard and learned how to jump, if you count six inches as a jump. The kids were amazed that I knew how to wakeboard, they've just seen me ski, so they were funny talking to me about it when I was done. Jamie did good on our wakeboard ;) and on our ski :). Steven had one goal for the summer, to land a 180 and he accomplished it already. I wonder what he will do next?

I absolutely love the lake. Yuba is so great because there is actual beach that the kids can play at, and the water is pretty clean. Thanks to everybody who went and tried to ski, Terri & Christa you kicked butt buy getting up so stinkin fast on your first tries!! You are both naturals. I hope I can be like Mike and Shelly and get my butt up on a ski when I'm in my 50's!!! Way to go guys, you really are my health hero's! I can't wait for next time when we get to go, hopefully the water will be glass so I can really ski, once you ski on perfect water you become a spoiled brat. That's me, deal with it. Welcome back Summertime!