Almost here!!

Yesterday we finished up the school shopping, bought the last few school supplies and had the hair's cut. I think we are as ready as we can be for the first day of school. Hard to believe that Darek will officially be a Freshman tomorrow and Parker will be a big 7th grader. Both the boys start school tomorrow with orientation for students and a short day schedule.

Parker is very excited to be headed to Jr. High. He is pretty maticulous about his appearance and his school supplies. Yesterday at Costco he found the best deal ever (according to him) - a binder that holds ALL his stuff (and he has alot of stuff). He was on cloud 9. He immediately came home and organized the binder with pencils, paper, pens, calculator and schedule. Preparation for school is complete after this great find! He also got the hair cut so he's lookin' pretty cool. I have to brag that he is one good lookin' young man! Watch out girls!

Darek on the other hand is anything but excited. He did buy some new shoes (DC's) and picked out some cool shirts, but other then that Mom has done the rest of the shopping. Unlike Parker, he doesn't care if he has pencils, paper or anything else. He is taking Welding this year so I hope that will be a fun class for him and a good outlet from the book work. We pray he will have an awesome year and keep encouraging him to get involved and enjoy the high school years. We tell him that great memories can be made over the next four years and that you can't go back and do it again, so live in the moment!

Best of luck to the both of you and may you have a WONDERFUL year!

Redneck Riding!

Don has been really sick and needed some R & R. We decided that a trip to Ibapah was just what we needed. So we loaded up the bikes and off we went. Our good friends Bob & Crystal Mitchell we able to come with us which was great because we haven't seen then for quite some time. We pulled in at 10:30 p.m., tried putting what I thought was the key into the door and no go! I couldn't believe it. Luckily Don was able to get a window to open & we pushed Darek thru.

The weather was BEAUTIFUL! Not too hot, not too cold. The kids did lots of riding behind the house with Don sitting in a chair and enjoying the moment.

On Saturday, the boys talked me into driving the truck the dump so they could "Treasure Hunt." Well they found a matress and decided it would be great to tie a rope to it and drag it behind the 4-wheeler. Much to my protesting the mattress was tied down to the bed of the truck. Back to the house we went. Immediately they rigged up the mattress and from the pictures you can see the result. Talk about Redneck riding. Leave it to the boys to be inventive. However, it did provide an hour of entertainment!

While we were there, Rachel got her first taste of shooting. Dad took her out and let her shoot Parker's gun first which just has a site on it. She couldn't quite get the hang of it. So he gave her Darek's gun with the laser site on it and she nailed 20 out of 25 shots! Not to bad for a 7 year old.

All in all it was a great restful weekend spent with great friends in the greatest place on earth!

They Survived Steiner!

Well, the men survived Camp Steiner. They had an awesome time and the weather couldn't have been better - cool, but not too cold.

Two big high five's to both the boys who passed their cold water check in Scout Lake. Ya! Parker went on to earn his Rowing and Canoeing Merit Badge and he participated in the Canoeing races on the last day. Darek didn't earn any water merit badges, but he PASSED the cold water check which is a huge milestone for him. Way to go, boys!

The high point for Darek was earning his climbing merit badge. He learned to repell and climb on the cliffs at Steiner and according to his dad he is really good at it. He also earned his 2nd year round camping award, Indian Lore, Fish and Wildlife & Geology.

Parker was a busy beaver. He earned his rowing, canoeing, geology, cooking, first aid, orienteering, indian lore and his year round camping.

Both boys loved the rifle range where they showed everyone how good of shots they are. Parker could hit the target on the first shot every time. He was the rifle shooter in the leg of the Mountain Man relay.

The girls and I drove up on Friday and spent the day and night with them. We had a fabulous time watching the troop participate in the Battle of Steiner and performing their hilarious skit at the closing camp fire.

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

Last Wednesday the girls and I attended the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House. We had a wonderful time and it was great to see inside this beautiful temple. It is very similar to the Draper Temple. The Celestial room reminds me alot of the San Diego Temple in that it is very open and the sunlight comes in. The girls were fascinated with the chandaliers.

Afterwards we enjoyed a cookie and a drink and a picture in front of the water fountain at the front of the Temple. It was a terrific day!

Freedom!

Well, all the men at our house are gone for an entire week. Don and the boys have left for scout camp at Steiner until Saturday. They pulled out of here with 14 other boys & leaders yesterday morning. My boys & hubby were excited to go. Darek & Parker are going to work on a climbing merit badge and with lots of prayers, they will both pass the COLD water swim check & be able to earn their canoeing and rowing merit badges. The girls and I are going to go up on Friday morning and spend the night, then bring back a load of boys Saturday morning.

The girls and I have freedom for one week. That means no cooking of meals and SHOPPING! I'm having to work 3 days of the week & so not lots of time to party, but enough. We plan to do some shopping on Wed. and attend the Oquirrh Temple Open House.

I do have to say that even though they have only been gone one day, I miss them all! Our house was way to quite last night. As the saying goes, "Can't live with them. Can't live without them.

Oh My Gosh! He's 15!

Okay, it is hard to believe my first born is 15. He is growing up so fast. We celebrated Darek's birthday over the 4th of July weekend with a party at the pool. Aunt Aly rented the depot pool and Darek invited a couple of friends, Zach and Dillon Bates to come and hang out. It was also great to have lots of family. Karen & Phil were in California (and we missed them), but everyone else was there. We were glad that Uncle Paul, Aunt Barb, Justin & Mariah and their kids, and Bethany & Josh could join us. The Jones' were also able to attend and that was great.

Lucky for us the weather cooperated and we had no rain (thanks to lots of praying). It was beautiful weather and fabulous to have the entire pool to ourselves. There was lots of stunts off the diving boards (even some of the little ones tackled the diving boards), swimming races, basketball games, & little bodies going up & down the slide!

After the pool party we went back to our house and had cake and ice cream and presents. Darek received just money from everyone. He is wanting to purchase some new riding gear, so that's what he'll do with the money.

Thanks to everyone for making his birthday so great! We love you Darek & are so proud of the young man you are becoming.

God's Country

Our trip to Ibapah was terrific! It was great to have the whole family (including 7 dogs) together and enjoy the beauty of what dad calls "God's Country." The kids had fun riding ATV's, playing on the playground, feeding Kyle Batemans baby calves, and having water fights with Aunt Aly & Uncle Ty.

The first day we were there Parker decided to be "Evil Canevil" (as Uncle Ty now calls him) and tried to make a jump while riding the motorcycle. Needless to say, he didn't quit make it and landed on the front tire of the bike and sent him & the bike end over end. Miraculously nothing was broke, but he did a great job of bruising most of his right leg and arm and giving himself a good rode rash. By Saturday night he was back on a bike, but no jumping.

Our good friends,Dameon & Laurel Jones & their kids were able to come with us. We were so glad to have them join us and enjoy the beauty of this area. Thanks to Candice for taking care of Parker and making him laugh when she told him that "Chicks dig scars!"

We attended Church on Sunday and were the majority of the congregation. There was 32 people in attendance and 22 were from our family. It is rodeo time and so many of the people in Ibapah were at the Lehi roundup.

Trixie surprised us all and chased and caught her first rabbit. It was amazing! She ended up with a cut pad on her front paw and spent the rest of the time hobbling around or I think she would have caught another one.


I think one of the funnest things was the water balloon fight with Aly & Ty. Aunt Aly brought a pool which we put on the small piece of grass in front of the school. She also bought 500 water balloons and we used all of them!!! On Sunday, it was really hot and Ty filled about 60 water balloons and then launched them on the kids and Aly. It was quite a site and everyone had fun dowsing each other in water.

Swimming pool $15, water balloons $5, 45 minutes to fill the balloons and 5 minutes of priceless memories!

Thanks everyone for a great time!!!!!!!