I am alive

I'm not sure anyone even checks my blog anymore....but I know that at least two people do since they both gave me a hard time for never updating. I guess that means it is time. Life has been seriously crazy and lets be honest..unless there are pictures...who cares. My computer crashed a few months ago and I'm using an old laptop to survive which takes forever to upload pics...I will try and get them up tomorow! If anyone cares or looks.....

Summer 2010.

I realize that I update very rarely but this summer has been very, very busy! Here is what we've been up to and hopefully I remember to get more pics later!

June
We took the kids to the zoo. Apparently I've never taken my kids and my husband at the same time. It was fun to have Cory with us and the kids loved the animals.


The kids had swimming lessons and it is so fun to see them swim. It isn't easy for Jaden and I'm so proud of him for working through it. They both advanced to the next level and at the end of the week they were rewarded with a trip to Lake Powell.

We spent about 4 days in Lake Powell. When I say we...I mean me and the kids....not Cory. My in-laws were nice enough to tolerate us and Aunt Laura came to help us survive a hail storm in the middle of the night in our tent. It was very, very fun and the kids were very sad to come home. The funniest thing about Lake Powell was that Lane learned to say "Aye, Aye Matey" and "Aye, Aye Captain". It is sooooo cute!



My mom did "grandma camp" again and this year we were up Wolf Creek for about 4 days. The kids had so much fun with their cousins and grandma spoiled them rotten. We went to the dinasour park, Toy Story 3, made t-shirts and went swimming as much as possible. It was a fun few days.



Jaden was playing his first year of coach pitch and his dad was his coach. It was so fun to watch them in the field together. Jaden is such a good kid and I'm so very proud of him.

We also got to go to the Manti temple with Aunt Laura. She took out her endowments and then that night we stayed for the Manti Pageant. Jaden was fascinated with the whole pageant. Grace was until she fell asleep and Lane is usually just happy to be with us.



July
The fourth of July was a fun weekend. We hiked timpanogas cave together as a family in the morning and then my cute friend got us tickets to the Stadium of Fire for that night. The kids loved the fireworks and the program. It was a great day. On Sunday I let the kids throw their pop rocks on the front porch. I thought Lane might be scared but he would throw one and then giggle when it popped and do it again. He is at such a fun age.



We went camping the next weekend with some friends and had a great time. I love when Cory is away from his phone and computer and my kids are free to run and play. We have great friends with good kids and it is nice to forget the worries and stresses of normal life.

The next weekend we headed to Yellowstone. Both of our parents have trailers and so we decided to invite them along. Our parents get along so well and we had so much fun with them. We left on a Thursday and drove to the Gray's River Mountains the first night and camped. Then wee spent the first day in Jackson with my parents. The kids got to go on a Stage Coach ride and see the museums and shops. Then we drove into the park and stayed at Grant village the first couple nights. Cory's parents and sister met us there. We stayed there 2 nights and then went to Fishing Bridge for 2 more. We went to church at a little service by Fishing Bridge on Sunday and then Monday morning my parents left. We drove up to Mammoth and I think we saw most of the park. My kids are a little spoiled and have seen most the animals up close before yellowstone. Grace kept saying that she had seen "enough buffalo" and Lane would say "bebe bubalo". We did see around 13 bear and every U.S. liscence plate excpet Rhode Island. We drove out through Cody and stopped and spent the day there at their museum. Then we camped outside Cody.
The next day (Wednesday) we drove to Bear Lake and spent the night there so we could help with the bridal shower for my new sis-in-law on Thursday. Right after the shower we drove home. It was a late night but so good to be home.




That weekend was the 24th of July so the Friday we got home....we went to the Spanish Fork Rodeo. Lane sat like a statue through the whole thing. He loved it. He kept saying "bad bulls" and "cowboy fall off". Jaden and Grace loved the clown and his little act. It was another fun night.



The next morning I ran the speedy spaniard 10k which was such a fun run(thanks for running with me Laura) and then my mom-in-law and sis-in-law helped me sew little girl's dresses for my bro's wedding. Cory's birthday was Tuesday but we celebrated Monday with his parents at Tucanos and cake and ice cream. Then I left Tuesday morning for girl's camp and was gone until Friday afternoon. My kids had fun with their dad, Grandma Jane and my in-laws.

August(so far)
We left the 6th of August to head to Bear Lake. The first day up there my camera battery was dead so I'll have to post some additional pictures later. It was raspberry days but other than breezing through the craft fair Sat afternoon...we didn't get into the festivities. We helped my parents pick berries on Sat and then Cory left Sunday to come home for work. The kids and I spent the week helping pick berries, sew dresses, make ice cream, jam, jelly and do house work. It was a very busy week but then on Friday my little brother got married. It was a beautiful day and the kids behaved other than Lane during pictures. After a long day we spent the night to help pick berries again Saturday and then clean mom's house before coming home. It was fun to see my brother's and my cute two sis-in-law's. My kids had so much fun and freedom in Bear Lake and didn't want to come home. But we did make it home last night and now I have one week left to get everyone ready for school.



Where did the summer go?????

May-WARNING-very long post

It is so crazy how quickly time flies. We have been home now for 3 days of summer and I'm loving it. The kids are playing so well together and I love having less schedule. It won't be that way for long though....lots of fun activities coming up. But here is what happened last month: Grace graduated from preschool....she and her little friend were so funny during their performance.


After she got her little certificate Jaden rushed up to give her a hug. It was such a rare and cute moment that I had to capture it.


Grace also had her dance competition and final program. She was always does so well and we are very proud of her. Her grandma's and grandpa's came to support her and even gave her flowers. So did her Aunt Laura and cousin Kaylie. We are so lucky to have so much support. However, Grace always concentrates so hard for the performance that following...she is exhausted and very grouchy. She melts down and I'm always apologizing to those who came to see her perform because by the time they talk to her she is on overload. It is so hard to be too mad at her because for 4+ hours she has given 110%...I'd be tired too. She is an awesome dancer and seems to enjoy it. She shines on stage. Her she is with Miss Pam.


The weekend after her dance performance cousin Kaylie came to spend the night. The girls wanted their hair in rags...I was supposed to get a picture the next morning with their hair all curly but Cory was gone to meetings and with 9 o'clock church...I was lucky to get us all there.

We always go camping with friends for Memorial Day and have so much fun. Since we camp a lot during the year...I always try to take a family night before Memorial Day and talk about safety, learn something new or make something for camping. We've made a family flag to hang up when we camp and we've done backpacks and vizors. A few years ago we made pillow cases(I hate taking the ones from their beds). We used fabric paint but it peeled and didn't work so well so we did it with fabric markers this time. Here is Lane's:



Our Memorial Day camp this year included 21 kids(under 10) and 14 adults. It was a blast with good food, sand and wind the first day, good weather the rest of the trip, and great friends. This was the first trip that Lane was walking and the weather was warm so he had a blast. All the kids have tons of friends to play with and never get bored. Here are some pics: Excitement on the way to San Rafeal.


Exploring an old mine.


Some of the men discussing where to go next.


Jaden and Lane all tuckered out.


Lizards and best buds at Goblin Valley.


Pinata time


Friends and fun




And just because...I was reading my cousins blog with her little guy singing "Jesus wants me for a sunbeam". Her little one and mine are close in age and Lane was fascinated with "Maethon" singing. I found this video and thought I'd share.

May Mayhem...actually this was April...May to come

As usual, we have been super busy the last while. April seemed to race by with fun and now May is the same. This morning I woke up to find Lane sitting on the counter eating life cereal from a bag...Grace asked "mom" a million times only to then ask "what sound do rabbit's make"...and Jaden was hugged me on his way out the door and then hugged both his sister and his brother. Some days you just laugh, amazed at what you have.

In April I was able to go meet Cory in San Antonio and spend four days without kids. It was so much fun. It was nice to know that after nine years(today is our anniversary) we could still enjoy being together. It was a lot of work to get ready to go...I hadn't left my kids that long and now with all their activities it worried me. My parents and in-laws did amazing and even laughed at my OCDness. It was really hard to come home though. I was so ready to see my kids and worried about them but hated to leave the bliss of our vacation behind. Who knows when there will be another one?



I had to jump right back into craziness when we returned...I had written up a script for my ward's young women based on the Wizard of Oz. Each of the girls were given ruby red slippers, then they had to collect each of the yw values and return to "home" with their virtue. It was so much fun and I think it turned out but it was soooooo much work.


The girl's choosing their ruby red slippers.

Sugar cookie lollipops for dessert.


We also did a mom and me "T" party for YW and used the "T" for temples, testimonies, trials, triumphs, treasures, etc. It was also fun but a lot of work.
This is my cute YW president-Grace wouldnt' get a picture with me.


We moved Cory's grandparent's at the end of April...made me want to clean my house and try to get organzied again.

I also was in charge of Teacher Appreciation Week at our school. This included: a small gift in the teacher's boxes every day, breakfast on Monday(ciche, muffins, bagels, fruit, drinks), Fun facts about each teacher displayed on Tuesday, Wednesday we recognized the aids, Thursday we had the kids decorate a poster with their Thank you's, Friday we did Cafe Rio style salads, cake and drinks and then each teacher got to pick a $25 gift(i.e. movie tickets & dinner, hair salon gift certificate) and 1/2 dozen cookies. I had spent the last two months getting the donations and was very glad to have it over.

The kids wanted to go to the school carnival which was on a Wed night smack dab in the middle of Teacher Appreciation week. So we did...Jaden's soccer at 4:30-5:30,change clothes,carnival from 5:30-6:30, then I had my YW T party and Cory had YM so we split the kids and met at home around 9. The kids have been really good lately but I think they are getting tired. Here is the remnants of Jaden's cool hair that was dyed at the carnival.


Jaden had his first piano recital and was very nervous. He did super though and I'm so very proud of him. I thought Cory recorded the song though but I guess he just took pictures. Here he is with his amazing piano teacher, Ginelle.




He also found and read his own scripture for Primary(guess I'm retired now). Grace gave a talk on Faith and for the first time actually spoke into the microphone.

Mother's Day was supersized in our house. The kids have been working and thinking about it for weeks(I'm not a huge fan of Mother's Day so it wasn't because of me). They were so cute and I think more excited about this than Christmas. They woke up early(6ish) and woke me up with gifts (#1 mom necklace and recipe holder), then they made me toast with sprinkles and a protein shake to have in bed, they helped get ready for church(since Cory was gone to meetings), sang to me in Sacrament, made coupon books for me in Primary, when we got home they had prepared a special dance number to show me, then they gave me gifts they had purchased from their great-grandma's garage sale the previous weeks. They were so cute about it and I love them so much. Its hard to imagine life without them...I really don't want to. I missed my own mom and grandma and wished I could be with them. I am so lucky to have such great women in my life.

Now we have upcoming dance programs and competitions, graduations, patriotic programs, camping trips, the end of soccer, beggining of baseball....all in two weeks.....hmmmm.

Skiing, Camping for Easter, Terrible 2's, Bear Lake for Spring Break

Here is part of what we've been up to. Life has been super busy. First off...I talked Cory into going skiing with me and the kids. Usually it is just me and them but this time....fun family time. I even got Lane on skis!


For Easter we went camping. We looked for warmer weather and managed to find somewhere without snow and rain. We had lots of Easter egg hunts and a birthday party for my cute niece.


The day after we got back we celebrated Lane's birthday a few days early with Cory's family. Lane has his great grandpa Monroe's name for a middle name so it is special to have him here. Lane had Elmo and Cookie Monster cupcakes and cookies. He loves Elmo and was singing "Happy Birthday to you" most of the day. He got an Elmo, tractors(another favorite) and other fun things. He was a happy boy.



Then since it was still spring break...we headed to Bear Lake. We hiked to the old rock stove (a tradition) and started a little fire. Here is my cute husband.


Then on Lane's actual birthday we celebrated in Bear Lake with my parents, grandma, favorite Aunt and Pat and Kayla. He had a tractor cake(my creativity is on vacation) and got some more elmo stuff and a four wheeler. We sang to Grandma Floyd since her birthday is two days after Lane's and to Pop's since his is four days after.


Lane had no problem tearing into gifts...he would even use his teeth.

This is how many adults it takes to try and get toys out of their boxes. Almost every adult was untwisting the wires. Great fun.


Dad took Cory and Jaden fishing too. Jaden caught a ton and they seemed to have tons of fun. Guess its fish for dinner.


Its amazing how quickly Lane figured out how to be a terrible two. Let's just hope we both survive!