All Fun and Games!

We have truly been enjoying each and every moment we can of this time of year. I can literally smell and feel Fall in the air...and that makes me a little anxious.

We have had 3 fun events in the last few weeks.

First off, I was able to do a 5K in Alpine with a few friends and some family. The race benefited Autism Speaks, so it was very close to my heart! We had a great weekend. Only bummer....I had to be pushed in a wheel chair thanks to my foot. Talk about feeling like a big fat fattie :( I am just truly grateful for my family and friends who came. We truly did have a great time!






Next, we are really and truly enjoying our new neighborhood. We have some great neighbors. The kids are making friends and having fun riding their bikes to school and enjoying their new year at school. All of them have awesome teachers. Their school is getting close to being finished. The remodel/add on is awesome. I am a huge supporter of the public school system, and even though it is bittersweet to send them, I know they are having so much fun and learning so much!

Family Pictures 2011

We had our family pictures done a few weeks ago by my friend Stephanie Tucker. She has Glimpse Photography http://stephanietakespictures.blogspot.com/

I have literally 10 great friends who are either great photographers or professional photographers. Steph is in my food group, so we see her one or two times a week, and she knows my kids. She was great to work with us.

We went to a very special spot behind my parent's house. We had to brave stickers, weeds, allergies, bugs, etc...but it was worth it! Family pictures are something I DREAD...but I am so glad we have them as a precious keepsake!





Hallie found a tiny frog and was in HEAVEN! What's that saying about kissing a few frogs before you meet your prince?



And.....the nudity shot! We were right by water so as soon as we were done with pictures...the clothes came off and they were swimming!

Mid Summer Nights Dream.....

This summer has seriously been one of the best ones I have in my memory. We have done a little of everything. Lots of fun things outside, and not much time planted in front of a TV or saying “I’m bored….”

Sadly, next week it comes to a close as school starts for my 2 older kids, and then Kayler goes the next week….which is VERY sad for me. Sad because I don’t feel he is ready to be in Kindergarten and I am worried beyond belief, but I am trying very hard to put my trust in the school system. I'm just sad that my kids are growing up.

I am even sadder that after tonight’s “Mid-Summer’s Dream”-(see pictures below) that by tomorrow at this time I will be a gimp for awhile. My foot that has been bothering me for over 2 years is finally getting fixed. A local foot Dr. told me that my foot hurt so bad from wearing flip flops too much. Well after 2 years of wearing orthotics and good shoes and trying to be careful it still hurt. My friend Pat referred me to her foot Dr in Park City, who just happens to be the official foot and ankle surgeon for the US Ski Team made a more accurate diagnosis.

I had a small broken part in my foot…and it had been trying to heal, but not doing so correctly and it had build up a lot of scar tissue/misplaced cartilage. Along with that, my toe was practically dislocated and the ligaments were stretching and straining to keep it in the socket. After the surgery...it was even worse/different than we thought. So I ended up with a screw/pin to hold things together.

I really hope it is a quick fix and super quick and full recovery. I don’t mind the surgery itself…I just really hate being a burden on people. Mainly my sweet husband who has helped me through 10 surgeries in our 11 short years of marriage. I also hate not being 100% for my kids. I get really down thinking about the many bad strokes of luck that I have had with my health. Then I am brought back to reality that things could always be worse, and that overall I am very healthy and strong.
So……farewell (almost) *tear* to the best summer ever….I hope next Summer is just as good!

p.s. these are some random pictures of my kids and their cousins. We love going to my Grandma and Grandpa Stewart's house in the summer and spending time in their beautiful yards picking fruit!










The next set is our beautiful view from the Zermatt resort in Midway where we stayed before my surgery. We got a killer deal on their very best room-the honeymoon "penthouse" and massages. We finished the night off with shopping and a yummy dinner! We figured we would take advantage of a night away in luxury since my foot is now making things pretty yucky! There are 2 pictures of it...but beware, it is nasty!

So proud...

We are so blessed that we have continued to have such an awesome summer! What did I say about not an ounce of boredom??!!

One thing I did want to document was something that happened that I will never forget. Everyone reading my blog has heard of Sgt. Daniel Gurr’s passing. The events that led up to his death though are what I can’t get out of my mind. And how this world is so small…yet so large.

His little sister Caitlyn was in my Beehive class years ago. She was so cute, talented, and I really enjoyed being around her. Fast forward a few years….and I helped with the Drill Team when she was on it along with Daniels’ girlfriend Stephanie. I got to know the 2 of them even better.

About 3 weeks ago I had a horrific headache that wouldn’t go away. I had saw Stephanie at the Rec. center where she worked and was talking to her about my headache. She reminded me that she had been to school for massage therapy and had just opened up at her house and did massages.

I went over and had a great massage and we talked and talked about her and Daniel’s love story. I saw all the pictures of him all over her walls and listened to lots of stories. She was SO proud of him. It taught me right then and there to be a lot more grateful for the men and women that serve our country.

One more experience was a wonderful evening of chatting with my 92 year old neighbor...who just happens to be Daniel's Great-Grandma. She told me a lot of great stories and put my heart at ease with her faith. I was so sad for someone I hardly knew...yet she knew and loved him as her own flesh and blood and was much more at ease than me.

I truly didn’t think that he would be one to be injured. There are thousands upon thousands serving our country….why would he get hurt? So, when I heard the news of his passing…my heart sank, and I almost threw up. I was so sad for his family-who has had more than their fair share of tragedies. I thought of Stephanie…and how their love story’s ending was so much different than they had planned.

I think the most proud, humbling experience was the parade on main street when his body was brought home. My kids were SO reverent, silent, and I couldn’t help but to cry as the precession went through. This little town might not be everyone’s ideal place to live, but for me it is perfect. It is times like this when we pull together with an incredible amount of pride and solidarity and support for those that need it.

I am so grateful to be and American. So proud to live in Utah…and in Vernal.

Denver Vacation!

As August 1st came….my heart was filled with bittersweet feelings. It means that the year is more than half way over. It means that school starts in less than a month. The worse thing it means is that my summer and warmth and outside activities are slowly but surely going to end…and that makes me sad.

We have been very lucky to have had the best summer. I truly can say that my kids have not been “bored” once this summer. I know that we have a few weeks until school starts, and that my schedule is quite open-and that boredom might set in….but I will take it. We have had so much fun keeping busy and enjoying anything and everything we could!

The past 5 days have been no exception. My parents bought their motorhome at the beginning of summer, and a lot of our fun has been in this “bus” . We decided very last minute to take a road trip to Denver. We had to have a trial run of a road trip, meaning not traveling clear across the country or anything, because I didn’t know how my kids would do. Thank goodness they have done great. It is hard not to when you are basically in a house on wheels! You can eat, drink, sleep, lay down, walk around, go to the bathroom, watch TV…..we could even do a load of laundry if we wanted…all while reaching our destination.

We left Sunday after church. We made it to Glenwood Springs for the night. The kids (and us adults) LOVED the hot springs. I have been a dozen times or more…but I love it every time. We are going to try to make it back in the wintertime-it is only a little over 2 hours away. We stayed Sunday night in a Wal-Mart parking lot…that was quite the experience! It was hot, noisy, and a pretty sleepless night…for me at least.

We got on the road early Monday morning to finish our beautiful scenic drive to Denver. I forget how beautiful all the tunnels, mountains, and pretty houses are through these Rocky Mountains! We arrived safe and sound and stayed at Cherry Creek State Park in the middle of Denver. It was perfect.

Our first adventure was The Denver Museum of Nature and Science. We went there mainly for the IMAX theater, but were surprised at the awesome activities and exhibits they had. We watched a movie, spent some time looking around…and then headed off to the Aquarium. My kids love fish and sea life…and anything to do with animals and all that. We met G.J.’s sister Danne there (she lives in Denver) We finished off our evening with dinner by a huge aquarium and real life mermaids.


Tuesday we woke up to a cloudy day, but we headed to Elitch gardens…which used to be Six Flags. We went to the water park section for the first half of the day, and the amusement park the second half. I had called before to ask which days were busiest…and they told me Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Well….unfortunately even though we went on a Tuesday it was “bring a friend day” for season pass holders. So just imagine an amusement park about ¼ the size of lagoon….with 2-3 times the amount of people. We got rained on a little…but at least it wasn’t hot. It was also dirty-with some pretty interesting people…so, although my kids had a blast, and us adults did too…I would not recommend going there to anyone.

Wednesday my kids begged to go back to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. We spent almost the whole day there, and still didn’t see or do all it had to offer. It was amazing. We finished off the day at the most beautiful…and big....Mall I have seen- Park Meadows Mall. It took us 2 hours just to walk through it all…let alone shop for much!

The best thing about a motorhome is the money it saved us on a hotel, food, etc. It was only $26 a night for the campground, and I spent $40 on groceries for meals and snacks for all of us-then I packed some food from home. I kept thinking how I wished my parents would have had this when I was a kid! We did our road trips in my mom’s 1989 pontiac…with 3 kids squished in the backseat! I am truly grateful though that my own children get to experience such a fun thing. I keep trying to instill a deep sense of gratitude in them about all the fun things that they get to do…not only in a motorhome, not only during summer, but every day of their life. I might not be the best mom, but I feel I truly do try to let them experience and do lots of fun things in their life. They are only little once!

So----now I am officially caught up on my blogging. I am excited for hopefully a more low key August. Then I will face school…Fall…and even Winter with the best attitude I can!

ps...sorry for the pictures being a slideshow!